IDF chief to initiate inquiry into military shortcomings related to Hamas's 'Walls of Jericho' raid plot

Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir, the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), is expected to designate the head of a newly formed special investigation team in the near future. The goal of this initiative is to conduct a comprehensive and independent review of past intelligence shortcomings.

According to reports from N12, this team will focus on evaluating Israeli intelligence failures related to Hamas's 2022 Walls of Jericho operation, as well as an additional Hamas raid plan dating back to 2018. The decision has raised eyebrows, as Zamir previously commanded the Southern Command when the 2022 Jericho Wall plan was discovered, making him a potential subject of scrutiny in the investigation.

Ynet reports that Zamirs selection of the investigation head aims to ensure the process is thorough and impartial. The official probe is intended to address concerns that the earlier Turgeman Commission, which investigated IDF shortcomings during the events of October 7, did not adequately examine either the 2022 or 2018 Hamas plans.

Background on Hamas Jericho Wall and 2018 Raid Plans

The Walls of Jericho plan, along with the 2018 raid outline, were documents created by Hamas detailing potential surprise attacks against Israel, bearing similarities to the assault executed on October 7, 2023. Israeli intelligence reportedly identified elements of these plans as early as 2018. However, the intelligence assessments at the time reportedly did not treat the plans with sufficient seriousness.

When the Walls of Jericho plan was uncovered in 2022, some officials noted that Hamass strategy appeared flexible, without fully developed procedures documented. The upcoming special investigation aims to examine these gaps and determine why the intelligence was not acted upon decisively.

Author: Sophia Brooks