The quotes

28 direct quotes from the archive, in file order, each with its source. English translations are for orientation; the Hebrew text is the record.

In their own words

01Accepted responsibilityJanuary 21, 2025ynet

“On the morning of October 7, the IDF under my command failed in its mission”
״בבוקר 7 באוקטובר, צה"ל תחת פיקודי כשל במשימתו״
Herzi Halevi · IDF Chief of Staff on October 7, 2023

Source: ynet The full record

02Accepted responsibilityFebruary 27, 2025Kan News

“The responsibility is mine. I am the commander of the army on October 7”
״האחריות היא שלי. אני מפקד הצבא ב-7 באוקטובר״
Herzi Halevi · IDF Chief of Staff on October 7, 2023

Source: Kan News The full record

03Direct testimonySeptember 10, 2025Channel 13 News

“We failed. Hamas was not at the top of our priorities”
״כשלנו, חמאס לא היה בראש סדר העדיפויות שלנו״
Herzi Halevi · IDF Chief of Staff on October 7, 2023

Source: Channel 13 News The full record

04Accepted responsibilityMarch 4, 2025Channel 13 News

“The responsibility is on me, but the timing of a resignation matters”
״האחריות עליי, אך לעיתוי ההתפטרות יש משמעות״
Ronen Bar · Head of the Shin Bet on October 7, 2023

Source: Channel 13 News The full record

05Direct testimonyApril 21, 2025ynet

“The alert grading was wrong and constitutes a Shin Bet failure”
״מדרג ההתרעה היה שגוי ומהווה כשל של שב"כ״
Ronen Bar · Head of the Shin Bet on October 7, 2023

Source: ynet The full record

06Direct testimonyAugust 15, 2025N12 / Mako

“What happened to us requires taking apart and rebuilding”
״מה שקרה לנו דורש פירוק והרכבה״
Aharon Haliva · Head of Military Intelligence (Aman)

Source: N12 / Mako The full record

07IDF probeFebruary 27, 2025Maariv

“The Shin Bet and the intelligence officer said everything was routine”
״שב"כ וקצין המודיעין אמרו הכל שגרה״
Yaron Finkelman · Commander, Southern Command, on October 7, 2023

Source: Maariv The full record

08Accepted responsibilityJanuary 15, 2024Kan News

“I am responsible for the decisions and actions taken in the IDF during my tenure”
״אני אחראי להחלטות ולפעולות שנעשו בצה"ל בתקופתי״
Aviv Kochavi · IDF Chief of Staff before October 7 (2019–2023)

Source: Kan News The full record

09Excerpt quoted in a written responsedate not verifiedPM's response to the State Comptroller (copy submitted for research)

“I really object”
״אני ממש מתנגד״
Aviv Kochavi · IDF Chief of Staff before October 7 (2019–2023)

Source: PM's response to the State Comptroller (copy submitted for research)The full record

10Accepted responsibilityOctober 19, 2023Kan News

“I am responsible for the defense establishment over the past two weeks, including in the hard events”
״אני אחראי על מערכת הביטחון בשבועיים האחרונים, גם באירועים הקשים״
Yoav Gallant · Defense Minister on October 7, 2023

Source: Kan News The full record

11InterviewFebruary 6, 2025N12 / Mako

“This isn't just rockets, there's something on the ground here too”
״זה לא רק רקטות, יש פה גם משהו קרקעי״
Yoav Gallant · Defense Minister on October 7, 2023

Source: N12 / Mako The full record

12ResponseMay 23, 2024ynet

“It is no longer enough for us to take responsibility for what happened”
״כבר לא מספיק שניקח אחריות על מה שהיה״
Benny Gantz · IDF Chief of Staff 2011–2015; War Cabinet minister 2023–2024

Source: ynet The full record

13Direct testimonydate not verifiedi24NEWS

“The political echelon was briefed. I was briefed”
״הדרג כן עודכן. אני עודכנתי״
Yair Lapid · Prime Minister 2022; Opposition Leader on October 7

Source: i24NEWS The full record

14Direct testimonyAugust 2024Maariv

“I was sure October 7 would happen. I was only wrong about the year”
״הייתי בטוח שה-7 באוקטובר יקרה, טעיתי רק בשנה״
Avigdor Liberman · Defense Minister 2016–2018

Source: Maariv The full record

15Accepted responsibilityOctober 21, 2025ynet

“The terrible failure of October 7, which I am party to, must be thoroughly investigated”
״את הכישלון הנורא ב-7 באוקטובר, שאני שותף לו, יש לחקור באופן יסודי״
Tzachi Hanegbi · National Security Adviser on October 7, 2023

Source: ynet The full record

16Excerpt quoted in a written responsedate not verifiedPM's response to the State Comptroller (copy submitted for research)

“Above ground there is no wall that prevents this”
״על פני השטח אין חומה שמונעת את הדבר הזה״
Yuval Steinitz · Cabinet minister in the 2016 barrier discussions

Source: PM's response to the State Comptroller (copy submitted for research)The full record

17Excerpt quoted in a written responsedate not verifiedPM's response to the State Comptroller (copy submitted for research)

“The slurry wall is a big challenge and there is no other solution”
״הקיר הסלארי הוא אתגר גדול ואין פתרון אחר״
Gadi Eisenkot · IDF Chief of Staff 2015–2019; War Cabinet minister 2023–2024

Source: PM's response to the State Comptroller (copy submitted for research)The full record

18Excerpt quoted in a written responsedate not verifiedPM's response to the State Comptroller (copy submitted for research)

“There is an eight-meter iron wall”
״שיש חומת ברזל של שמונה מטרים״
Gadi Eisenkot · IDF Chief of Staff 2015–2019; War Cabinet minister 2023–2024

Source: PM's response to the State Comptroller (copy submitted for research)The full record

19Responsedate not verifiedMaariv

“It's all written in the protocols. There is no reason to lie”
״הכל כתוב בפרוטוקולים - אין סיבה לשקר״
Gadi Eisenkot · IDF Chief of Staff 2015–2019; War Cabinet minister 2023–2024

Source: Maariv The full record

20InterviewJune 16, 2024N12 / Mako

“Extraneous and political considerations entered the room”
״שיקולים זרים ופוליטיים חדרו לחדר הדיונים״
Gadi Eisenkot · IDF Chief of Staff 2015–2019; War Cabinet minister 2023–2024

Source: N12 / Mako The full record

21Excerpt quoted in a written responsedate not verifiedPM's response to the State Comptroller (copy submitted for research)

“The army is capable of conquering Gaza... it's simply unnecessary”
״הצבא מסוגל לכבוש את עזה... זה פשוט מיותר״
Moshe (Bogie) Ya'alon · Defense Minister 2013–2016; Chief of Staff 2002–2005

Source: PM's response to the State Comptroller (copy submitted for research)The full record

22Excerpt quoted in a written responsedate not verifiedPM's response to the State Comptroller (copy submitted for research)

“Without underground tunnels, Hamas has no real ability to threaten the State of Israel”
״ללא מנהרות תת קרקעיות לחמאס אין יכולת אמיתית לייצר איום על מדינת ישראל״
Nadav Argaman · Head of the Shin Bet 2016–2021

Source: PM's response to the State Comptroller (copy submitted for research)The full record

23Direct testimonydate not verifiedynet

“Our inability to see the enemy's method, that is the heart of the failure”
״חוסר היכולת שלנו לראות את השיטה של האויב — זה לב הכישלון״
David Zini · Commander, General Staff Corps / Training Command on October 7; Shin Bet chief since 2025

Source: ynet The full record

24ResponseFebruary 26, 2026ynet

“There was no treason on 7/10”
״לא הייתה בגידה ב-7/10״
David Zini · Commander, General Staff Corps / Training Command on October 7; Shin Bet chief since 2025

Source: ynet The full record

25Accepted responsibilitydate not verifiedMakor Rishon

“I failed in the mission of my life, to defend the border communities”
״נכשלתי במשימת חיי להגן על העוטף״
Avi Rosenfeld · Commander, Gaza Division

Source: Makor Rishon The full record

26Accepted responsibilitydate not verifiedDavar

“We did not bring the golden intelligence”
״לא הבאנו את ידיעת הזהב״
Yossi Sariel · Commander, Unit 8200

Source: Davar The full record

27Direct testimonydate not verifiedYedioth Ahronoth / ynet

“We were wrong, all of us”
״טעינו, כולנו״
Nimrod Aloni · Commander, Depth Command; formerly Gaza Division commander

Source: Yedioth Ahronoth / ynet The full record

28InterviewSeptember 16, 2024ynet

“Without an orderly budget and financial stability, we simply cannot provide the proper service”
״אם לא יהיה לנו תקציב מסודר ויציבות כספית, פשוט לא נוכל לתת את השירות המתאים״
Eli Bin · Director General, Magen David Adom

Source: ynet The full record