Maj. Gen. David Zini: "October 7 IDF Collapse Worse Than Yom Kippur War"

Major General David Zini, recently nominated as Israel Security Agency (ISA) director and head of the IDF Training and Drill Command, delivered a stark critique of the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) failures during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, describing it as a “catastrophic failure” surpassing the 1973 Yom Kippur War’s intelligence and operational collapse. Speaking to Gaza region residents, where he fought alongside security forces on that fateful day, Zini outlined systemic flaws that enabled Hamas’s deadly assault, which killed 1,200 and saw 251 taken hostage, as reported by Israel National News and The Times of Israel.

Zini, who raced from his Golan Heights home to the front, pinpointed the IDF’s flawed defense strategy, stating, “It’s not about troop numbers but how defense was organized. The system was designed to react, not to counter a large-scale surprise raid.” He highlighted the failure to anticipate Hamas’s tactics, saying, “We didn’t grasp the enemy’s approach, which was the root of our collapse.” Dismissing conspiracy theories of deliberate neglect, Zini explained, “This wasn’t malice but systemic blindness. An army must detect hidden threats, and we failed that core duty.”

He detailed specific shortcomings: “We let the enemy fortify along our border, favouring calm over pre-emptive strikes. A state sometimes needs preventive war, but we weren’t prepared for a broad assault.” Zini noted the border defense relied on inadequate warning systems, with insufficient reaction time between Shejaiya and Nahal Oz. The Air Force, hampered by unprepared bases under fire, only partially mobilized by 9:30–10:00 a.m. Additionally, Zini’s March 2022 report, cited by the Prime Minister’s Office, had warned of IDF vulnerabilities to surprise raids, but no action followed.

Zini issued a heartfelt IDF apology: “No words can fully express our regret for this immense failure. We are dedicated to ensuring it never recurs, learning every lesson for years ahead.” His nomination, announced by Prime Minister Netanyahu on May 22, 2025, sparked controversy, as IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir was not consulted, leading to Zini’s dismissal from active duty.