Exclusive: Gallant Tells All in Interview exposing October 7 and Hezbollah Failures

In a recent interview with Channel 12 News, Gallant revealed that his plan to strike Hezbollah at the start of the war was thwarted by Israeli political and military leadership, calling it “the greatest security blunder since the establishment of the State of Israel.”

Gallant recounted receiving the first news of the attack from his daughter in Tel Aviv, who alerted him to the sirens, before contacting IDF Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi. According to Gallant, Halevi was immediately aware of the severity of the situation, which involved both rocket fire and a ground invasion by Hamas terrorists. However, Gallant expressed frustration that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in particular, displayed a “very gloomy” and “pessimistic” attitude about the situation, which persisted through the following days.

Gallant further discussed the IDF’s response in the early hours of the attack, emphasizing that transitioning from a state of rapid movement to full military action requires time for preparation and deployment. This delay, Gallant argued, contributed to the IDF’s inability to respond swiftly enough to the escalating threat. He expressed deep regret over not being woken up earlier in the night, suggesting that had he been informed sooner, he might have pressed for a more aggressive response that could have brought in more aircraft and ground forces.

In addition, Gallant criticized Israel’s decision not to take immediate action against Hezbollah, despite knowing that senior Hezbollah leaders were likely to gather during the early stages of the war. Gallant believed that an airstrike targeting Hezbollah’s leadership—along with the destruction of their missile and rocket arrays—could have crippled the group and prevented further escalation. He called this failure a major security mistake, arguing that Israel missed an opportunity to neutralize a significant threat early on. However, his plan was opposed by Netanyahu and others in the leadership, including Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot.

Gallant also touched on the ongoing political tensions within Israel, highlighting the impact of the controversial judicial reform on national security. He suggested that the reform was detrimental to Israel’s defense capabilities and security, with serious consequences that could have affected the response to the October 7 attack.

As the investigation into the military and political handling of the war continues, Gallant's comments have sparked significant debate, with calls for a comprehensive commission of inquiry into the events leading up to and following the attack. Gallant’s remarks serve as a stark reminder of the complexity of military decision-making in times of crisis and the profound consequences of missed opportunities in the early stages of a conflict.