JERUSALEM: Israel’s National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi on Saturday admitted “mistakes” in intelligence assessments ahead of the Hamas attack last weekend that took the country by surprise.
Hamas launched a multi-pronged assault early October 7, breaching the Gaza border barrier and targeting southern Israeli communities and military bases.
“It’s my mistake, and it reflects the mistakes of all those making (intelligence) assessments,” Tzachi Hanegbi told a media briefing when asked about his recent statement predicting no Hamas attack.
Hanegbi said that they really believed that Hamas learned the lesson from its last massive war with Israel in 2021, according to AFP.
Casualties in Israel
Over 1,300 civilians and security forces have been killed since the attack started, according to Israeli officials, and around 120 have been seized by Hamas and believed to be held captive in Gaza.
Hanegbi rejected talks towards any prisoner swap agreement with Hamas.
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He said that there was no way to talk with an enemy Israel has sworn to obliterate.
Relentless Israeli air strikes on the blockaded Gaza enclave over the past week have killed around 2,200 including at least 600 children, Hamas officials said.
