Israeli Brigadier General warns of October 7 failures

Retired Israeli Brigadier General Guy Hazut has provided testimony regarding the military and political failures leading up to the October 7, 2023, attacks. In his book, ‘The High-Tech Army and the Cavalry Army’, Hazut argues that his prior warnings of an imminent catastrophe were ignored by both military and political leadership.

Hazut describes a systemic collapse across three levels: the political level, which maintained a policy of containment despite growing threats; the operational level, which relied on superficial warnings; and the tactical level, which suffered from organizational lethargy and a lack of readiness. He notes that the Israeli military had become divided between a ‘glittering technological army’—comprising air force, intelligence, and cyber units—and a ground force that was neglected and tasked with routine security duties.

While praising the fighting spirit of soldiers and reservists during subsequent ground operations, Hazut criticized the lack of a clear political or administrative alternative to Hamas and the absence of an official commission of inquiry. He warned that the failure to hold investigations has fueled a crisis of trust, noting that approximately 40% of Israelis have turned to conspiracy theories due to information vacuums and perceived evasion of responsibility by leadership.