Outgoing IDF Gaza brigade chief says he suggested attacking Hamas before Oct. 7, was rejected

In his parting speech as commander of the Gaza Division’s Northern Brigade, Col. Haim Cohen claims he recommended attacking Hamas before the terror group’s October 7, 2023, onslaught but was rebuffed by the senior command.

“A month and a half before the surprise war, the area was hot. The entire chain of command came to the brigade for tours, from the chief of the [Southern] Command to the defense minister. I recommended all of them, launch a proactive and aggressive operation. The clear message I received from all was ‘Hamas is deterred. This is its way of gaining civil benefits .. we don’t want another round’,” Cohen says at a handover ceremony.

Cohen announced his resignation last month for his failures on October 7, during which thousands of Hamas-led terrorists captured IDF bases and Israeli border communities under his responsibility.

On the morning of October 7, Cohen remained in his war room at the Gaza Division base near Re’im. His counterpart, Col. Asaf Hamami, the commander of the Southern Brigade, was killed fighting Hamas terrorists near Nirim, and his body was abducted to Gaza.

Cohen was not promoted by former chief of staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi. New IDF chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, on March 5, already appointed a replacement for Cohen, Col. Omri Mashiah, who entered the role today.