Yoav Galant, the ousted Defense Minister, was interviewed today (Tuesday) on Channel 12 and provided a glimpse into the functioning of the security and political echelons in the days and hours leading up to the Hamas attack on October 7.
Gallant described the magnitude of the intelligence and operational failure on the night of October 7, revealing that, contrary to what was expected in an event of this magnitude, he remained out of the loop.
""They didn't alert the defense minister," he said. "They didn't think the information was important, and that's why they didn't alert me.".
He claims that if he had been informed in time, he would have demanded preparation in the event of an error in the assessment: "I would ask - let's assume that the assessment is incorrect, what are the active actions on the ground?""
Gallant noted that when the information does not result in the activation of forces in advance, the ability of the Chief of Staff and the commander to influence in real time is very limited.
He rejected the claim that the political echelon was only fed by what was presented to it, and described a personal attempt to observe what was happening on the ground. "Ten days before October 7, on Sukkot, I decided that I was going to the Gaza Strip. I was told that the Chief of Staff and the commander of the command could not join. I said: Whoever is available, come. I stood and looked across the fence and asked what was happening?""
Gallant added that he instructed the soldiers in the field not to rely solely on intelligence: "I told them: Look through binoculars, look at what's happening in the West, be careful.".
He did not deny his share of responsibility, but he spoke out against attempts to place the blame only on the junior or military ranks. "There are ten ranks below the defense minister, and I am also responsible for that. But to say 'they didn't tell me' is to shift the responsibility downward.".
In his opinion, the only way to draw lessons from the public and the soldiers is a state investigation committee, which must go back a long time. "Hamas started to grow stronger a decade ago, and everyone who was in a senior position during those years needs to come and explain.".
It should be noted that the right opposes the establishment of a state commission of inquiry formed by the Supreme Court, partly because the commission would also have to examine the conduct of the court. For this reason, the right proposes the establishment of an equal commission of inquiry, formed by the coalition and the opposition.
The left refuses the offer, and some on the right claim: They are afraid that the truth will come to light.
