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Expert Says Israeli Overconfidence and Political Crisis Enabled October 7 Attack
Three years after the October 7 attack, Israel remembered the people killed and taken hostage.
Hamas led the attack, which killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, according to the article.
Professor Khinvraj Jangid said Israel missed warning signs and did not expect Hamas to carry out such a large attack.
He also said Israel was distracted by a serious political dispute at home.
After the attack, fighting spread beyond Gaza, including to Israel’s northern border.
Jangid said the experience shows that countries should not assume an enemy is weak.
He also said that even strong technology and intelligence cannot prevent every surprise.
Israel marked three years since the Hamas-led October 7 attack, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.
Professor Khinvraj Jangid said Israel failed to respond adequately to intelligence signs and underestimated Hamas’ capabilities.
Jangid said Israel’s 2023 domestic political crisis over Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul distracted attention from external security threats.
The attack triggered the Gaza war and was followed by attacks on Israel from Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran-backed groups, including the Houthis.
Jangid said the lessons include not underestimating adversaries, maintaining domestic resilience, and recognizing that intelligence and technology cannot guarantee security.
- Who
- Hamas led the attack; Israel was attacked. Professor Khinvraj Jangid analyzed the failures and lessons.
- What
- Israel marked three years since the October 7 attack, which killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
- Where
- Israel, including the site of the Nova music festival in the south.
- When
- Wednesday, three years after the October 7 attack.
- Why
- Jangid said intelligence failures, underestimation of Hamas, and Israel’s domestic political crisis contributed to the security failure.
Key facts
- People killed in October 7 attack
- About 1,200
- People taken hostage
- 251
- Reported Gaza deaths
- More than 74,200, according to the Hamas-run health ministry
- Expert interviewed
- Prof. (Dr.) Khinvraj Jangid, Professor and Director of the Jindal Centre for Israel Studies
- Main failures identified
- Inadequate response to intelligence signs, underestimation of Hamas, and distraction from domestic political turmoil
- Regional developments described
- Hezbollah attacks from Lebanon began on October 8; the article also mentions Houthi missile and drone attacks toward Israel.
- Residents evacuated from northern Israel
- Jangid said more than 100,000 were evacuated and remained displaced through 2024 and 2025.
Quotes
Khinvraj Jangid
Professor and Director of the Jindal Centre for Israel Studies.
“There are two levels of failures here. There was one failure at the intelligence level, in a way where they did not take serious note of the movement of Hamas forces.”
livemint.com
“Never take the enemy lightly. Too much self-assurance and too much overconfidence can really bite back.”
livemint.com
Sources
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