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IDF Chief Imposes First Sanctions Over Oct. 7 Failures as Defense Minister Halts Promotions

Most officers named had already left active duty, following an external review that found the breakdown was systemic.

Overview

  • Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir announced dismissals and other penalties based on ex-general Sami Turgeman’s inquiry, saying the military failed in its core mission on Oct. 7.
  • Former intelligence chief Aharon Haliva, ex-operations head Oded Basiuk, Unit 8200 commander Yossi Sariel, and former Southern Command head Yaron Finkelman will be discharged from reserve service.
  • Air Force chief Tomer Bar and Navy commander David Sa’ar Salama received formal reprimands, and military intelligence chief Shlomi Binder will complete his term before stepping down.
  • Defense Minister Israel Katz froze senior IDF appointments for 30 days and appointed retired Gen. Yair Volanski to re-examine the report, drawing a public rebuke from Zamir for revisiting an internal army document.
  • Pressure for an independent state commission grew with a Tel Aviv rally of victims’ families and opposition leaders, while the government signals preference for a government-appointed review.