The Turgeman Committee, which was appointed to investigate the quality of the IDF’s internal probes into the October 7th massacre during the tenure of former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, presented its findings and recommendations to IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Deputy Chief of Staff Tamir Yadai, Walla reported on Thursday.

According to the report, the conclusions could shake the very foundations of the army’s leadership. Senior officers exposed to the details described the findings as “particularly problematic,” warning that they cast leading generals and other high-ranking officers in a negative light.

“These are not just technical lessons but questions of personal responsibility at the very highest levels of command,” one officer said. 

Zamir has not yet published the recommendations, fearing a severe upheaval within the system. There are concerns that the findings and recommendations will spark internal clashes between IDF generals and between generals and members of the Turgeman Committee—including harsh accusations that will be leaked to the public. 

Senior officers have already pointed to the first problem: for reasons that Zamir has not yet addressed, he decided to appoint dozens of senior officers, including brigadier generals, without thoroughly discussing the committee’s recommendations—a move that raises questions about the credibility of the entire process.

Walla further reported that, according to assessments, Zamir will need to clear four sensitive hurdles before the report can be released: presenting the findings to the General Staff Forum, the Defense Minister, bereaved families, and the general public. The IDF estimates that he will continue to delay the publication of the report, since some recommendations will likely prevent him from appointing specific officers or, more likely, showing them the door.

In any case, Zamir postponed the publication of the committee’s findings until after Operation Gideon’s Chariots B, or in other words, is taking advantage of any opportunity to gain more time until the findings are published.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)