Former Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant has admitted that Israeli forces were ordered to implement the Hannibal Directive on October 7, a controversial military protocol that mandates the killing of hostages along with their captors to prevent their abduction. The revelation confirms long-standing suspicions that Israeli forces deliberately targeted their own civilians during the Palestinian resistance attack. Gallant’s statements expose a ruthless strategy where the Israeli leadership prioritized military objectives over civilian lives.
Gallant also acknowledged that Israeli far-right policies contributed to escalating tensions before October 7. He blamed former Police Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for his repeated storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, describing it as a provocation that “ignited the situation.” His admission aligns with longstanding critiques that Israel’s aggressive stance toward Palestinians fuels cycles of violence, ultimately justifying more military aggression under the guise of security.
Military Failures and Resignations
The aftermath of the October 7 attack has sent shockwaves through Israel’s military establishment. A wave of resignations has followed, with Israeli Channel 13 reporting internal turmoil within the army. Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, Israel’s military chief, announced his resignation on January 21, acknowledging the military’s failure during the operation. Halevi admitted responsibility, stating in his resignation letter that he was stepping down “due to my acknowledgment of responsibility for the [military’s] failure on October 7.”
Similarly, Major General Yaron Finkelman, who led Israel’s southern military command overseeing Gaza, has also resigned. These resignations highlight the broader crisis in Israel’s military leadership, which failed to anticipate or effectively respond to the Palestinian operation. The Israeli government has attempted to mask these failures by intensifying its assault on Gaza, shifting the narrative from military incompetence to retribution.
Netanyahu’s Political Maneuvering
Amidst the chaos, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Gallant from his position in November, citing a breach of trust. The real reason, however, appears to be Gallant’s opposition to expanding military operations into Lebanon and his internal criticisms of the government’s handling of hostages. Netanyahu’s move was widely seen as an effort to consolidate power and deflect blame for Israel’s security failures.
Gallant’s removal paved the way for even more hardline policies, as Netanyahu replaced him with Israel Katz as the new Defense Minister. Katz, known for his aggressive stance on Gaza, further reinforced Israel’s commitment to continued military aggression. The Israeli leadership, rather than reflecting on its failures, has chosen to escalate violence, ensuring that Palestinian civilians bear the brunt of its military and political miscalculations.
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Hostage Negotiations and the Gaza Catastrophe
Gallant’s revelations also exposed the Israeli government’s unwillingness to prioritize the safe return of hostages. He admitted that he had received warnings that launching a ground invasion on October 27 could result in the deaths of Israeli captives in Gaza. Despite this, he insisted on proceeding with the military operation. “We and Hamas share only one thing – we both want to keep the hostages. They see them as leverage, while we see them as our own people,” Gallant stated. Yet, his actions contradict his words, as Israel’s military campaign has led to the deaths of numerous hostages.
Gallant also revealed that far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich actively sabotaged hostage exchange negotiations by threatening to withdraw from the government. His obstructionism suggests that Israeli leaders prioritized their political survival over the lives of their own citizens. This aligns with Netanyahu’s broader strategy, as he has resisted calls for an official investigation into the intelligence and security failures of October 7, fearing that an inquiry could expose his administration’s negligence.
Israel’s War on Gaza: A Cover for Failure
As Israeli leadership scrambles to shift blame, the war on Gaza has become a convenient distraction from its own catastrophic failures. The military’s inability to secure its borders and protect its citizens has been overshadowed by relentless bombardment of Palestinian neighborhoods, killing thousands of civilians. Gallant, while acknowledging that Israeli settlements in Gaza would be a disaster, has done little to prevent the ongoing genocide in the besieged enclave.
The Israeli government’s response to October 7 is emblematic of its broader strategy—suppress internal dissent, escalate military aggression, and prioritize political survival over human lives. Netanyahu’s regime has demonstrated that its primary goal is not security or hostage recovery but the systematic destruction of Palestinian society. Gallant’s admissions, combined with the mass resignations of Israeli military officials, paint a damning picture of a government that is willing to sacrifice its own people to maintain its colonial ambitions.