In an exclusive and detailed report, the Jerusalem Post's military correspondent and intelligence analyst, Yonah Jeremy Bob, unveils unprecedented insights into the failures of Israeli leadership and security institutions during the October 7, 2023 attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, known as the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation. The report highlights a shocking revelation that Israeli officials were caught off guard as Hamas launched approximately 3,700 rockets and sent nearly 5,600 militants across Israeli borders at multiple points, capturing numerous towns by 6:29 AM local time.

Additionally, it was disclosed that only months after the outbreak of war, Israel's military intelligence had already informed Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Herzl Halevi about a planned Hamas operation to invade "the walls of Jericho" over a year prior. However, this intelligence was dismissed by mid-ranking officials who considered it to be unfeasible, labeling it as fantasy. This underestimation of the threat level, by classifying it as strategically low, resulted in inadequate preparations and a failure to act decisively against the imminent danger.

This alarming oversight calls into question the effectiveness of the Israeli intelligence and military framework in assessing threats posed by Hamas and reflects on the broader implications for Israel's national security strategy. The failure to heed intelligence warnings indicates significant gaps in situational awareness and highlights the difficult realities facing the Israeli leadership in the ongoing conflict, prompting discussions about the need for reforms to avert similar oversights in the future.