Israel Police to Release October 7 Battle Investigations to Public
Three years after October 7, the Israel Police is preparing to publish its battle investigations, highlighting officer bravery, operational failures, and sharp criticism of the early military response.
Nearly three years after the October 7 attacks, the Israel Police is preparing to release its comprehensive combat investigations to the public. The findings have already been presented to senior command, participating officers, and bereaved families.
Revealing the Police Version of Events
For the first time, the police reports will detail what transpired within Israeli territory during those critical hours—who was present, who fought, who failed to arrive, how decisions were made, and how the force intends to reform moving forward. The investigations encompass intense battles involving police and Border Police officers in locations such as Sderot, Ofakim, Be'eri, and the Nova music festival site. A total of 58 police officers and fighters fell in action on October 7.
Criticism of Military Response
Alongside the operational findings, severe criticism of the military's response on that morning has emerged within police ranks. According to sources familiar with the investigative process and officers who fought at the scenes, IDF forces were absent for long hours from a significant portion of the active combat zones inside Israel.
The police maintain that the military was unprepared for a large-scale infiltration scenario involving multiple simultaneous combat zones within Israeli territory, leaving several areas entirely unknown to the army in real time.
The First Line of Defense
The central message the police intend to convey is that amidst the immense national failure, one security agency was on the ground and fighting from the very first moments: the Israel Police. Officers were the first to arrive at the scenes, engaging heavily armed terrorists who had trained extensively for years. While the investigations do not focus on personal disciplinary measures, they highlight systemic lessons and the unmatched bravery of officers who served as the primary defense line to save civilian lives.
