The Israeli government’s national security adviser admitted on Saturday “errors” by the intelligence services ahead of the bloody surprise attacks carried out on October 7 by Palestinians from Hamas in Israel.
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“It’s my mistake, and it reflects the errors of all those who carry out the assessments” in the intelligence services, declared during a press briefing Tzachi Hanegbi, who had recently indicated that he could not predict Hamas attacks.
“We really thought Hamas had learned its lesson” from its last major war against Israel, in 2021, he added.
Hamas fighters entered Israel on October 7, where they killed more than 1,300 people, most of them civilians, including children.
AFP
The Israeli army confirmed on Saturday that it had identified “more than 120 civilians” held captive in Gaza, including around 150 hostages kidnapped by Hamas which threatened to execute them. Hundreds of people remain missing, and bodies are still being identified.
Mr. Hanegbi also rejected any discussion around an exchange of prisoners with Hamas.
“It is not possible to negotiate with an enemy that we have sworn to annihilate,” he said.
Retaliatory strikes by Israeli forces on the Gaza Strip, a small, impoverished territory under siege wedged between Israel and Egypt, have left more than 2,200 Palestinians dead, most of them civilians, including 724 children, according to reports. local authorities.
AFP