Israeli Air Force at lowest preparedness on Oct. 7: Investigation

JERUSALEM

An investigation by the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, KAN, revealed Tuesday that the Air Force was at its lowest preparedness for Hamas' attack on Oct. 7 last year, with just two aircraft and two helicopters ready to operate.

Israeli officials view the attack as one of the country's greatest military and intelligence failures, significantly damaging Tel Aviv’s global image and the reputation of the army.

The broadcaster disclosed the results of an internal investigation conducted by the Air Force that said senior commanders at the Defense Ministry's base in Tel Aviv failed to present a “clear picture of the situation.”

“The Israeli Air Force was at its lowest level of readiness ever on Oct. 7, with only two helicopters and two aircraft available for immediate deployment,” it said.

Before the attack, an Israeli drone flew above the Gaza Strip throughout the night, but no one recognized “unusual activities taking place inside Gaza,” according to the report.

It noted that “Israeli fighter jets were deployed, but only to protect strategic assets and did not reach the Gaza border region, where the fighting was happening for hours.”

The first strike by Israeli aircraft against Hamas fighters and other Palestinian factions who crossed the border into southern Israel occurred at 7.15 a.m. (0515 GMT), despite the attack having started at dawn, said the report.

The investigation said it was not until 10 a.m. that the commander of the Israeli Air Force ordered the bombing of the breaches in the border fence through which hundreds of Hamas fighters entered.

KAN also reported that “Hamas had extensive knowledge about Israeli airbases, including the locations of runways.”

It highlighted “failures in maintaining information security and securing military bases.”

The ensuing Israeli onslaught has killed more than 41,000 victims, mostly women and children, and injured nearly 95,000, according to local health authorities.

An ongoing blockade of the enclave has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins.

Israel faces accusations of genocide for its actions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio