Ex-head of Israeli Military Intelligence discusses October 7 attack in leaked recordings
August 25, 2025 6 Comments
IN A SERIES OF leaked recordings, the former head of Israel’s Military Intelligence Directorate, Major General Aharon Haliva, has expressed strong views about Israel’s war in Gaza. General Haliva headed Israel’s Military Intelligence Directorate (known as Aman) on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian militants took Israel by surprise in a combined arms attack, killing over 1,200 and kidnapping 250. Since resigning a year ago, Haliva has not made any public statements.
It is unclear who Haliva was speaking to when he was recorded, or by whom he was recorded. Nor is it clear when or where the recordings occurred. They were leaked last week by Israeli television station Channel 12. There follows a summary of Haliva’s comments in the leaked recordings.
Personal Responsibility. Haliva admits that the disaster occurred during his watch; therefore, he bears ultimate responsibility. At the same time, he emphasizes that responsibility is systemic and broad—not only his, but also that of the entire Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Israel Security Agency (ISA), and the country’s senior political leadership. He states: “Anyone who voluntarily assumes a leadership position knows that his decisions will bring both great successes and great failures”.
Systemic and Cultural Failures. Haliva argues that the failure originates from a long-standing organizational culture within the Aman, rooted in arrogance, overconfidence, and the belief that “the enemy is deterred”, as well as the idea that Israel’s intelligence is all-powerful. This mindset led to operational stand-downs during Sabbaths, holidays, and in the month of August, reflecting overconfidence. He warns: “This was not a one-time accident, but something that requires dismantling and rebuilding the system”.
Responsibility of Other Bodies. Haliva points to the ISA as the agency that should have provided human intelligence alerts on the evening of October 6 and the early hours of October 7, 2023, but did not. He criticizes the government and the cabinet for not holding serious, in-depth discussions on Gaza, while for years allowing Hamas to grow stronger with the help of Qatari money and by dividing Gaza from the West Bank.
The Political Leadership and Benjamin Netanyahu. Haliva describes Netanyahu as “a very attentive man, who reads, but is very cowardly—and in the test of results, he failed”. He emphasizes that Israel’s political leadership made decisions that strengthened Hamas and hindered proper preparedness. His conclusion: “In such a biblical-scale disaster, responsibility lies with everyone—they should all step down”.
The Conception of Intelligence. Haliva acknowledges that a widespread belief existed that “Hamas is deterred”—and that this appeared in official documents even days before the attack. He argues that even if a warning had been received, it would not have changed the overall understanding, as the system did not account for such a large-scale attack scenario. He points out that Israeli intelligence could monitor missiles in Iran in detail but still missed Hamas’s preparations in Gaza—thus revealing a systemic flaw.
The Night Before the Attack. Haliva argues that even if he had woken up on time that night, it would not have changed the decisions, as the ISA, the Gaza Division intelligence officer, and the Chief of Staff, all believed calm would be maintained. He denies “false rumors” about his whereabouts that night, saying he was at home with his family.
Strategic Concepts. Haliva explains that Hamas was considered an “asset” by some segments of Israel’s rightwing leadership, who aimed to weaken the Palestinian Authority. He criticizes the “conflict management” policy as flawed and directly responsible for the disaster.
The Price and the Future. He describes the war in Gaza as a “war of no choice” and says that the heavy toll is “necessary to prevent future conflicts for generations”. He acknowledges that Israel faces a profound cultural and moral crisis and warns that, without real accountability, such a disaster could happen again. He calls for a national commission of inquiry as the only way to properly examine the failures.
The attitude of Netanyahu. According to Haliva: “It was common for the Prime Minister to have a weekly working meeting with the head of Israeli Military Intelligence. Over time, this was reduced to once a month, then once every two months. Eventually, it was down to one meeting every six months, and even that was barely enough”. Haliva adds that it seems Netanyahu did not want to hear assessments that differed from his, especially those warning of an attack on Israel, particularly after he received a strategic warning.
► Author: Dr. Avner Barnea* | Date: 25 August 2025 | Permalink
* Dr. Avner Barnea is a research fellow at the National Security Studies Center of the University of Haifa in Israel. He served as a senior officer in the Israel Security Agency (ISA). He is the author of We Never Expected That: A Comparative Study of Failures in National and Business Intelligence (Lexington Books, 2021).
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Netanyahu’s arrogance (difficulty taking advice or questioning his own assumptions) probably didn’t help things in October 7, 2023 and continues to this day.
Netanyahu’s arrogance formed by:
him serving for five years (1967-72) in a special forces unit of the IDF, then continuing in the reserves. [1]
being Prime Minister (1996-1999) (2009-2021) (2022 onwards) for about 16 years before October 7, 2023 (meanwhile US Presidents, the only leaders who can rein him in, have come and gone)
preoccupation in 2023 with corruption issues against him.
Netanyahu might have concluded on October 7, and still believe today “I am Israel” and “I am Israel’s greatest high level military intelligence expert”
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Netanyahu#Early_life,_education,_and_military_career
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Netanyahu#Prime_minister_(1996%E2%80%931999) off and on onwards.
Isn’t the bigger story is that the leader of an Israeli intelligence agency had a private conversation recorded and exposed?
The story you posted a few months ago about the Shin Bet review revealed there were many warnings signs showing Hama’s preparing for a major operation. It’s clear the Israel government ignored these warnings pre October 7 in order to give them the Israeli government a perfect Casus belli to wipe out Gaza and the people living there.
On July 7, 2015 at https://intelnews.org/2025/06/20/01-3404/#comment-361043 I commented concerning an earlier article by Dr Barnea:
“Iran, having been unable to retaliate with missiles and drones as much as Iran hoped against Israel, is surely looking at the asymmetric tactic of terrorism.”
Now, August 27, 2025 Australia’s government owned ABC News reports:
“Iran’s alleged sponsoring of antisemitic attacks in Australia may be a ‘power projection exercise’“
[Photo caption] Iran’s ambassador to Australia has been expelled.
…Australia’s case — the alleged sponsoring of at least two antisemitic attacks by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — is part of a pattern outlined by security agencies across Europe and North America.
…certain elements within Iran see these attacks as part of an overall strategy to threaten Israel and its supporters and inflate Iran’s power beyond its limited military and diplomatic range.
…Iran, hampered by decades of sanctions that have limited its military and economic development, has long looked at “asymmetric” or irregular ways to threaten dissidents in the Iranian diaspora as well as its enemies.
It has led to dozens of these allegations being levelled in Europe, Canada and the United States.
Iranian Australians have been alleging intimidation and harassment from the Iranian government for years, asking the Australian government to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organisation to help protect them.
[Photo caption] Australia will designate the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps as a terrorist organisation.
Designating an entity as a terrorist organisation allows people dealing with it to be prosecuted in Australia under anti-terror legislation.
…However, given the lack of military and political options available to Iran under its current government, and the unwillingness to consider significant domestic reform, these types of activities may become an even bigger focus for the IRGC…
More see https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-27/analysis-iran-alleged-antisemitic-attacks-power-exercise/105700758
Oh, the arm chair quarterbacking! Those like Netanyahu, who actually served his country, knows more about things than those who hide behind a keyboad boasting of this they know not…
Information at the top is so filtered, that when leaders do or able to have, may not get a clear picture. But, if one can attempt to paint one side as… More Lawfare, that all started in Israel, and picked up by the Democrats in the states…
History is a funny thing, and yet we keep repeating it, but Now Netanyahu has decided to make those who cause his country harm, pay the ultimate price, he’s the bad man? What part of 1,200 Israelis killed and over 250 hostage taken you clear can’t understand???
Yet, we have leadership that is willing to sacrifice it’s citizens, to destroy Israel… That is what I call a Cancer, and it must be removed, and those who seem to want to Arm Chair, go back to school and attempt to learn a little history, so we can finally stop the repeat cycle once and for-all…
Haaretz, the Israel newspaper, has written about how Netanyahu’s efforts kept Hamas in power. He was also caught on video explaining that he wanted Hamas to attack so he would get a proper excuse for doing what he is doing now.
Haaretz has always been liberal in it’s reporting. In the past ten or so years, a lot of the news in Israel has unfortunately turn more liberal, than it’s past. When I was in HS in the 80’s, the Israeli population had near 85% PHD holders, today it’s near 10. Today, around 30% of the college graduates with a PHD. I did a study in Israel in HS, and was deeply impressed what I had discovered. Sad really, looking back. Such a small country and the effect on the planet like no other country can claim. They are hated because of their wealth, but when one looks at their history, they basically became the first bankers, for they were not allowed to own property. They are truly self made people, they had to earn everything they have. And even then, it wasn’t good enough.
I’m embarrassed in what I am forced to witness today, in our so called media. Haaretz is nearly as bad as Wikipedia, very close.