Herzi Halevi, Israel’s Army Chief of General Staff,  has referred to October 7, 2023, as the day “when we failed in our mission to protect the citizens of the State of Israel.”

In a letter to Israeli soldiers marking the anniversary of the brutal attack on Israel, he wrote that “October 7 is not only a day of remembrance, but also a call for deep introspection” and “a recognition of our failures and a commitment to learning from them.”

On October 7, 2023, terrorists from Hamas and other extremist groups killed more than 1,200 people in Israel and abducted about 250 more as hostages to the Gaza Strip.

This triggered the Gaza war, in which, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority, some 42,000 Palestinians have been killed so far, mostly civilians.

Mr Halevi said that Hamas’ military wing had been defeated but that the fight against the organisation’s terrorist structures would continue.

With regard to the fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon, he said that the militia had been dealt a serious blow.

“We will not stop,” Mr Halevi emphasised. “We are destroying our enemies’ capabilities, and we will ensure that these capabilities are not rebuilt so that October 7 is never repeated.” 

(dpa/NAN)