The Army and the Israeli Defense Minister exchange reproaches for the October 7 investigation

The Israeli Army and the Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, have reproached each other in recent hours in relation to the internal investigation into the security failures on October 7, 2023 during the Hamas attack that left 1,200 dead and some 240 hostages, of which a hundred remain unreleased.

Katz has reported in a statement that he has ordered the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), General Herzi Halevi, to “fully cooperate” with the investigation, after the State Auditor General, Matanyahu Englman, will denounce “intimidations.”

In that sense, Katz has said that he has asked Halevi to guarantee Englman “access to any material he may require”, while reminding the head of the Army that they must present the conclusions of their internal investigation into what happened that day. at the end of this month.

Katz has also said that due to the “delay” and lack of substance in some of the conclusions presented so far, he will not approve the appointment of more generals until the internal investigation is concluded.

In response, the IDF has reminded the defense minister that it is conducting an internal investigation and collaborating with another state audit at the same time that a war is being fought, suggesting that this situation could jeopardize the success of military operations in all fronts open.

After assuring that “they will do everything necessary to finish them in a professional manner as quickly as possible,” the IDF has reproached Katz for attempting to “resolve the problems” through the media and not through direct dialogue with the head of the Staff.