Former IDF Chief Herzi Halevi shocks: ‘I have to credit Hamas for tricking us’ before October 7

Former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi has been recorded acknowledging that Hamas outsmarted Israel’s military leadership in the lead-up to the October 7, 2023 massacre. The comments, broadcast on Army Radio and reported by Israel National News, shed light on Halevi’s reflections as he steps away from his role. “I have no choice but to give credit to Hamas for the way they tricked us,” Halevi said in the recordings. “They managed to sedate us with the civil rioting and humanitarian situation.”

Halevi’s remarks point to how Hamas exploited Israel’s focus on domestic unrest and humanitarian challenges to mask their preparations for the devastating attack, which caught the nation off guard. He further admitted that despite rigorous training and extensive strategic discussions within the IDF, “we did not ever contemplate the possibility that 5% of what happened could happen.” The unprecedented scale and coordination of the assault, which marked the beginning of the "Swords of Iron" conflict, left a lasting scar on Israel’s military and civilian psyche.

In his farewell address as Chief of Staff, delivered prior to these recordings being made public, Halevi did not shy away from labeling October 7 as a monumental failure for the IDF. “On October 7th, the IDF failed. This was a colossal failure,” he declared. However, he argued that the magnitude of this breakdown necessitates more than an internal review by the IDF and Shin Bet. “It is not true that a failure of this magnitude should be investigated only by the IDF and the Shin Bet,” he said. “A state commission of inquiry is necessary and essential, not in order to find those to blame, but first and foremost in order to get to the root of the problems and enable us to correct the situation.”

Halevi emphasized that his sense of duty goes beyond legal accountability, framing it as a deeply personal and moral obligation. “I see responsibility as a matter of values, not a legal issue. Values are higher than the law,” he explained. “I always felt my responsibility as the chief commander of the army, and especially on Simchat Torah. This will remain with me forever. The responsibility to the civilians, the officers and the soldiers who fought fiercely and did not return, to the people who waited for the IDF that did not come, to the wounded, to all the hostages.”

Turning his attention to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Halevi delivered a pointed critique of the government’s treatment of the military. “The IDF is sometimes treated aggressively. This happened before and during the war,” he said. “It doesn’t help us become better at our job. It might damage the trust of the regular soldiers in their commanders, and the trust of parents whose children risk their lives on the battlefield. The erosion of the IDF will not help national motivation and individual choice to serve in years to come.” His words reflect a concern that political rhetoric could undermine the morale and cohesion of the armed forces at a critical time.

Halevi didn’t stop there, offering an implicit rebuke to government figures who have criticized the military’s resolve. “You don’t have to be a combat soldier to express an opinion,” he said, “but some of you who preached about the lack of courage and determination have never felt a cold trigger at night in the face of an enemy, have never heard the breathing of a wounded comrade on a stretcher as you carried him through hostile territory.” He defended the integrity of IDF officers, asserting, “IDF officers are not heroes in retrospect, and they do not choose to be part of a maneuver based on its success rate. We are responsible for both the good and the bad.”

His call for a thorough, independent investigation and his candid admission of Hamas’s tactical success are likely to fuel further debate about accountability, preparedness, and the relationship between Israel’s military and political leadership.

Israel National News contributed to this article.