JERUSALEM: A senior Israeli official on Saturday admitted “mistakes” in intelligence assessments ahead of a brutal Hamas attack last weekend that took the country by surprise.
Palestinian militants early October 7 launched a multi-pronged assault, breaching the Gaza border barrier and targeting southern Israeli communities and army bases.
“It’s my mistake, and it reflects the mistakes of all those making (intelligence) assessments,” National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi told a press briefing when asked about his recent remarks predicting no Hamas aggression.
“We really believed that Hamas learned the lesson from” its last major war with Israel in 2021, Hanegbi said.
More than 1,300 civilians and security forces have been killed since the attack began, according to Israeli officials, and at least 120 have been seized by militants and believed to be held captive in Gaza.
Hanegbi rejected negotiations toward any prisoner swap deal with Hamas.
“There’s no way to negotiate with an enemy we have sworn to obliterate,” he said.
Relentless Israeli air strikes on the blockaded Palestinian enclave over the past week have killed upwards of 2,200 including at least 600 children, Hamas officials said.
Israel admits intelligence ‘mistakes’ in failing to predict Hamas attacks
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Israel admits intelligence ‘mistakes’ in failing to predict Hamas attacks
- "It's my mistake, and it reflects the mistakes of all those making (intelligence) assessments," said National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi
- Israel admits intelligence ‘mistakes’ in failing to predict Hamas attacks
Palestinian deputy president discusses Gaza with Egyptian officials
- The discussion also centered on strategies for maintaining stability in the Palestinian territories
LONDON: Hussein Al-Sheikh, the deputy president of the Palestinian Authority, discussed security and diplomatic issues during separate meetings in Cairo with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Ati and Hassan Rashad, the Director of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service.
Al-Sheikh briefed Egyptian officials on the latest developments regarding the Palestinian issue, in the presence of Major General Majed Faraj, the head of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service.
The discussion on Sunday also centered on strategies for maintaining stability in the Palestinian territories and progressing to the second phase of US President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza, as reported by the Wafa news agency.
Officials also aimed to improve coordination and consultation to tackle the challenges facing Palestine and the wider region.
Al-Sheikh is poised to become the Palestinian president in the event of a power vacuum in the Palestinian Authority, currently led by 90-year-old Mahmoud Abbas.
