Israeli military admits failure to protect civilians from Hamas

The Israeli military has acknowledged a "total failure" in its response to Hamas's attacks on October 7, 2023. An investigation revealed that the military underestimated Hamas's capabilities and was unprepared for the assault, believing that Hamas was not interested in full-scale conflict. The report highlighted that Israel focused its resources on other threats, like Hezbollah, and relied too much on defensive measures. As a result, military commanders did not see an urgent threat and failed to reinforce troops along the Gaza Strip before the attacks. Calls for a national inquiry into the government's failures are increasing, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that such an inquiry would only occur after the war concludes. The first phase of a ceasefire, which began on January 19, is set to expire soon.