Herzi Halevi acknowledged that Israeli bombs unintentionally killed hostages in Gaza because the military was unaware of their precise locations. Although military pressure facilitated the release of certain captives, approximately 87 of the 251 people seized on October 7, 2023, died in captivity or had their remains transported to the enclave. Halevi also addressed the broader handling of the cross-border assault, labeling the incident a preventable failure while denying any internal treason.
Key points
Israeli air strikes directly caused captive casualties, departing from official claims th…: Israeli air strikes directly caused captive casualties, departing from official claims that previously attributed all hostage deaths solely to Hamas.
Military pressure contributed to the recovery of some captives while simultaneously leadi…: Military pressure contributed to the recovery of some captives while simultaneously leading to unintentional fatal strikes against others.
Investigations over a three-year period found no evidence of an internal collaborating ne…: Investigations over a three-year period found no evidence of an internal collaborating network assisting the preventable October 7 assault.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Israel’s former military chief has acknowledged that Israeli air strikes killed captives held by Palestinian groups in Gaza.
Speaking at a conference organised by the Shurat Hadin group in New York on Sunday, Herzi Halevi claimed military “pressure” on Gaza helped secure the release of captives.
But he admitted that Israeli forces had also killed some of them. “Our bombs killed hostages. We did not know they were there,” he said.
A total of 251 people were taken captive during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023.
Most were later returned alive through prisoner exchanges with Hamas. Approximately 87 died in captivity in Gaza or were taken there after having already died.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
Israeli authorities have previously declined to address accusations that military strikes killed captives, instead accusing Hamas of killing them.
Israeli newspaper Maariv reported in October 2025, citing Israeli officials, that many captives had been killed by Israeli strikes, particularly during the early…
Addressing the opening session of his nation's parliament, King Abdullah warned that regional peace remains unattainable while ongoing violations continue against the Palestinian people. The monarch highlighted the worsening conditions across multiple territories, emphasizing that current military actions threaten long-term stability. He pointed directly to territorial expansion efforts as the primary barrier preventing future peace and security for neighboring populations.
Damascus is seeking deeper security integration across the Middle East following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani emphasized at the Manama Dialogue that the region urgently needs joint deterrence systems to maintain stability. The initiative aligns Syria closer with Riyadh amid mounting regional threats from Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray warned that illegal school blockades risk jeopardizing the academic year for hundreds of thousands of pupils across the country. The ongoing unrest stems from youth dissatisfaction regarding learning conditions, high living costs, and university admissions policies. Despite substantial state concessions, major youth unions remain unsatisfied and are coordinating further disruption nationwide.