A leaked classified Israeli army document said the military’s operation titled ‘Gideon’s Chariots’ largely failed on multiple fronts, including in meeting its main objectives.
The operation, which is the Israeli given name for the aggression targeting Gaza, had the stated aim of defeating Hamas and releasing captives held in the enclave.
However, the actions detailed in the report, which was published in part on the Hebrew Channel 12, has been criticised by Israeli officials, including the army chief of staff, who said "Israel made every possible mistake".
Despite far-right and extremist Israeli ministers praising the operation, officers who saw the findings said that they doubt the army has learned the necessary lessons ahead of a new operation, titled 'Gideon’s Chariots II'.
Senior officers have also accused the army of acting "contrary to its own military doctrine," citing the mismanagement of resources and the exhaustion of its own forces.
They further blame the army of "eroding international support," the Times of Israel reported.
The document says Israel relied on "deterrence logic rather than decisive victory," while pointing out that they failed to release captives or end Hamas.
Another major failing, the report says, is the "incompetence" when it came to planning and distributing aid. It claims that Hamas was able to mount a global campaign to accuse Israel of starving the population.
This comes as international condemnation is mounting against Israel over its blocking of emergency aid into Gaza.
Gaza’s ministry of health also announced that seven more people had died of starvation due to Israel’s restrictions on aid. This brings the total malnutrition and starvation-related deaths to 339, including 124 children.
The catastrophic humanitarian situation has prompted several countries around the world to express their intention to recognise a Palestinian state at the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York. The UK, France, and New Zealand are among the countries set to recognise Palestinian statehood, triggering backlash from Israel.
The leaked Israeli report details other failings, such as the army manoeuvring in the same areas repeatedly at a slow pace and avoiding casualties.
It says that the operation saw a significant strain on manpower, as well as equipment fatigue.
It further found that the Israeli army was poorly prepared for guerrilla warfare, which was a key reason for its failure.
However, the report praises the military operation for pressuring Hamas into lowering their demands when it came to negotiations, as well as increasing the number of captives they were willing to release as part of the deal.
According to Hebrew media, the Israeli army has denied the claims in the leaked document and insists that the goals were met. It added that they are continuing to try to meet the overarching goals of the war on Gaza.
The army added the leaked file was "distributed without permission or clearance from the relevant authorities. The issue is being probed."
Despite displacing the entire population of Gaza and decimating the enclave’s infrastructure, Hamas still exists and holds 49 captives.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed over 63,000 Palestinians since October 2023 and plunged the enclave into a deep humanitarian crisis.
UN experts and leading rights groups have determined that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, citing the facts on the ground and the genocidal statements of Israeli officials.