October 8, 2026
On the third anniversary of the attack of October 7, 2023, the Commander of the Southern Region of the Israeli Army, Major General Yaniv Ashour, made a frank admission of the failure of the military institution in its basic mission of protecting the state and citizens, describing that day as a “major failure as an army” that changed the lives of Israelis as individuals, communities, and leaders.
In a speech he delivered during the commemoration ceremony in the Eshkol Regional Council, Ashour explained that the attack targeted towns, kibbutzim, and civilians with the aim of undermining the feeling of security and destabilizing the population’s confidence in the state’s ability to protect them. He acknowledged that the trust given to the army had been deeply damaged, and that the intelligence system that the army relied on to read the behavior of the Hamas movement and understand its movements before the attack “was wrong.”
Ashour pointed out that the war that followed the attack inflicted great human and psychological costs on Israel, stressing that the army fought this confrontation with the aim of recovering the detainees and restoring its deterrent power. He considered that military pressure was a decisive factor that prompted Hamas to release a number of detainees, especially when it felt the threat escalating and sought to ease the pressure on it.
The commander of the southern region stressed that the mission “is not over yet,” stressing the army’s determination to continue military operations until Hamas’ capabilities and will are weakened, warning at the same time that any attempt to target soldiers or residents of the Negev will be met with a “firm and strong response.”
Ashour concluded by emphasizing that the military institution continues to study mistakes, draw lessons and improve performance, pledging not to allow the events of October 7 to be repeated. These statements come at a time when the internal debate in Israel continues regarding the military, security and political responsibilities for the failures that preceded the attack, amid repeated calls for comprehensive investigations and holding those responsible accountable for the shortcomings.
