Israeli Intelligence Chief Resigns Over Oct. 7 Hamas Attack
Israeli Intelligence Chief Resigns Over Oct. 7 Hamas Attack
The Facts
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Thursday that Brigadier General Yossi Sariel — the commander of Unit 8200, its main signals intelligence unit — is resigning from his position for the failure of his unit to prevent Hamas' Oct. 7 onslaught that killed around 1.2K people.The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday that Brigadier General Yossi Sariel, the commander of Unit 8200, its main signals intelligence unit, is resigning from his position due to his unit's failure to prevent the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,2K people.
According to the country's public broadcaster Kan, Sariel said he couldn't fulfill his "personal responsibility" to avert Hamas from launching the attack, adding he would "pass the baton" at a time deemed fit by the authorities. The IDF said Sariel will be replaced "in the coming period."According to the nation's public broadcaster Kan, Sariel stated that he couldn't fulfill his "personal responsibility" to stop Hamas from launching the attack and that he would "pass the baton" when the time was appropriate. The IDF said Sariel will be replaced "in the coming period."
The Spin
The buck lands with the person in charge, which, in Israel's case, is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Oct. 7 was an intelligence failure of epic proportions, which resulted in Hamas launching the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. Netanyahu must also publicly accept blame and take responsibility for his government's inability to carry out its primary task — to protect Israel's citizens.
Mass resignations don't help restore faith in the Israeli military or do the Israeli public any favor. Israelis deserve to know why the military was found unprepared despite a reported warning of Hamas' large-scale invasion of Israel a year ago. Questions like why the commanders dismissed the armed group's capabilities and why it had diverted resources away from monitoring Gaza remain unanswered.
