Only a small emergency team was sent
Shin Bet is said to have ignored information about the Hamas attack
October 21, 2023, 7:10 a.m
Hamas terrorists attack the Israeli border on October 7th and invade several kibbutzim. 1,400 people die in the attack. According to a TV report, the secret service is said to have ignored specific warnings in advance.
Israel’s security authorities ignored “telltale signs” of an impending Hamas attack on October 7. This is reported by the Israeli broadcaster Channel 12. There were “concrete” indications of a “battle” that day in which a “group” of terrorists would try to penetrate across the border, the report says. Hamas’s goal was to take control of one or two communities and kidnap people.
The signs were discussed in a group of high-ranking military and Shin Bet officials, including IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halewi. However, no warning was issued. According to the television report, the meeting took place at around 4 a.m. and the Hamas attack began at 6:29 a.m. The Shin Bet secret service only sent a small operational team to the border area. When Hamas broke through the border in several places, the unit took part in the fighting in one of the kibbutzim that was attacked.
There were reports of a possible intelligence failure immediately after the Hamas attack. According to information from the Times of Israel, Hamas’ activities were believed to be an exercise. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently said he had received no intelligence warnings before the attack began.
Terrorists on behalf of Hamas, which rules in the Gaza Strip, carried out a massacre of civilians in Israel on October 7th. More than 1,400 people died during and in the following days. According to the Israeli army, at least 203 others were forcibly taken to the Gaza Strip, including several Germans. The army says it believes most of the hostages are still alive. According to the military, more than 20 children and young people are among those kidnapped.