By Saed Amouri
JERUSALEM (AA) - Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi admitted Sunday that the military failed to protect Jewish settlements near the Gaza Strip during the surprise attack launched by Hamas on Oct. 7.
Halevi made the remarks during a meeting with municipal leaders from southern Israel, the Yedioth Ahronoth daily reported.
“We are aware of the failure. We failed to protect the communities. We did not prepare for such a scenario,” he said.
"We will study everything, and we will learn our lessons. We are determined to complete the mission and to destroy Hamas.”
Israel has been carrying out relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip -- including on hospitals, residences and houses of worship -- since the Palestinian group Hamas launched a cross-border attack on Oct. 7.
Since then, the number of deaths in the ongoing Israeli attacks has surpassed 11,100, including more than 8,000 women and children, the government media office in Gaza said on Sunday.
The Israeli death toll is nearly 1,200, according to official figures.
*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala