"The responsibility is mine. I was the commander of the army on October 7, and I also bear the full weight of your responsibility," said IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, following the publication of the IDF probes into the October 7 failures on Thursday.
"I see every mistake my subordinates made as partly my own."
Halevi added that "every day since October 7, 2023, multiple times a day, I have forced myself to look failure in the eye. And I tell you, do not try to forget, do not try to look away—not from a place of weakness, but with great strength."
"I believe that an organization or a person who cannot stand up and face failure will find it very difficult to improve," he said.
"At the start of the investigation process, I outlined five guiding values for our inquiries: truth, transparency, objectivity, responsibility, and camaraderie. The order matters."
Demands for a state inquiry
However, other key Israeli figures responded by demanding a state inquiry instead of the IDF one.
National Unity chairman Benny Gantz tweeted, "State commission of inquiry now!"
Earlier in the day, he said, "This is just the tip of the iceberg- we must establish a state investigation committee."
"The investigations that were published force us to bow our heads in shame and ask for forgiveness from the bereaved families, from the residents of the south, from all citizens of Israel."
"Without an immediate state investigation committee, Israel's security is in danger, and Israel's unity is crumbling. I promise all citizens of Israel: a state investigation committee will be established."
Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman echoed similar feelings. "IDF investigations are not sufficient," he said. "It is clear that the security system has failed, and all those responsible must retire."
"But as long as the October 7th government refuses to establish a state investigation committee and examine the responsibility of the political echelon, it is deliberately preventing the hostages and the families of the murdered from knowing the truth," he added.
Democrats chair Yair Golan said, "The IDF, bravely and honestly, is dealing with its failures, examining itself and learning lessons."
He called October 7 "first and foremost a resounding political failure."
"While the IDF is courageously dealing with the truth, the government continues to evade, whitewash and preserve the seat of those who failed."
Golan similarly called for a state inquiry, saying, "We must bring the truth to light. We must have those who failed bear responsibility and pay the price. We will not compromise on anything less than the truth and responsibility."
PMO says not received IDF October 7 probes, demands they be handed over
Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office expressed 'surprise' at not receiving the IDF's October 7 probes in advance, given they had already been released to army officials and journalists.
"These investigations were presented to the Defense Minister, the army's senior command staff, and various journalists who were briefed on it. To the greatest surprise, one party has not yet received the investigations - the Prime Minister."
Defense Minister Israel Katz also ordered the IDF to forward all investigations into October 7 to the Prime Minister immediately.