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Infiltration of the IDF Southern Command
On the morning of October seventh, throughout the Hamas assault on Israel, Assaf Shmuelevitz, a younger lawyer, infiltrated the IDF Southern Command and gained entry to extremely delicate army conferences.
Amongst these was a essential briefing the place Protection Minister Yoav Galant was current. Shmuelevitz was uncovered to real-time intelligence on army operations, battle methods, and important details about hostages and the placement of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar.
The infiltration occurred at a second when selections made in these conferences might alter the course of the battle, highlighting the pressing have to act on collected intelligence within the first few hours of an assault.
How the Infiltration Occurred
Shmuelevitz’s preliminary try and enter the Southern Command failed, however he returned with a method.
Attaching himself to a well known retired Lieutenant Colonel, Shmuelevitz was capable of acquire entry by presenting solely a driver’s license, and he falsely claimed to carry a better army rank than his previous service.
Wearing applicable army apparel, Shmuelevitz’s disguise was meticulous and pre-planned. Upon coming into, he averted safety by bringing a second cellphone with no SIM card to bypass detection. Inside, he covertly took images of categorised army screens and recorded overheard conversations.
The Espionage Plan
Sections 2 and 27 of the indictment towards Shmuelevitz point out that his actions have been a part of a broader, well-coordinated plan. Nonetheless, essential particulars in regards to the plan’s origin, goal, and people who could have devised it stay undisclosed.
Knesset Member (MK) Almog Cohen identified that the silence on these key particulars suggests an intentional cover-up, more likely to shield highly effective people concerned within the operation.
The indictment’s ambiguity raises considerations about who acquired the essential intelligence gathered by Shmuelevitz, additional complicating the case.
Photographing Categorized Navy Information
In accordance with the indictment, Shmuelevitz’s espionage prolonged to photographing a number of the most categorised army laptop screens, revealing delicate details about Israel’s army plans and operations.
These screens, situated in extremely safe rooms, weren’t alleged to be accessible to unauthorized personnel. Shmuelevitz managed to {photograph} them undetected, elevating critical considerations about inside safety breaches throughout the IDF.
MK Cohen expressed disbelief, questioning how such a major breach might happen in one of many IDF’s most safe command facilities.
Getting into a Southern Command Briefing and Deception
After gaining unauthorized entry, Shmuelevitz participated in a Southern Command briefing, falsely presenting himself as an operations intelligence officer.
After the briefing, he manipulated a senior officer, directing him to a soldier with a selected position, and satisfied her to take a seat with him.
Shmuelevitz used the soldier’s cellphone with out her information, sending WhatsApp messages to himself that made it seem as if she had requested his help in streamlining operations. This false narrative helped him bolster the notion that he held a significant position throughout the command middle.
Acquiring False Appointment Letters
Shmuelevitz additional manipulated IDF personnel by acquiring fraudulent appointment letters. The day after the assault, he approached an assistant to a former commander, requesting a doc that may authorize him to hold out particular actions throughout the IDF Southern Command.
The assistant, trusting Shmuelevitz, signed the doc with out verifying its contents, successfully giving him authority over operations.
Two days later, Shmuelevitz escalated his deception, acquiring one other letter that granted him command of a particular unit tasked with covert operations.
He manipulated the state of affairs additional by exploiting the chaos of the continued battle, convincing a senior officer to signal the letter with out completely reviewing it. The officer later realized the error however didn’t act swiftly sufficient to retrieve the doc, additional complicating the case.
Connections to ‘Achim Leneshek’ (Brothers in Arms)
The involvement of members of the Achim Leneshek (Brothers in Arms) an anti-Netayahu group on this case provides one other layer of intrigue. The indictment reveals that Shmuelevitz introduced a former F16 pilot and a former officer, each affiliated with Achim Leneshek, into the bottom with out correct authorization.
These people participated in conferences with senior officers, and their presence has fueled hypothesis that influential political figures are being protected.
Ayala Hasson’s investigative reviews additional revealed that these people, recognized for his or her opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial reforms, have been probably concerned within the espionage plan.
Hasson identified that regardless of their involvement, no prices have been filed towards them, suggesting a deeper political motive behind the cover-up. The Achim Leneshek group had been essential of Netanyahu’s authorities and had even acknowledged that its members would refuse to serve within the IDF because of the judicial reform efforts.
Shmuelevitz’s Background and Lev Kachol
Assaf Shmuelevitz, skilled as a lawyer, started his profession as an assistant within the Deputy Lawyer Normal’s workplace, having access to delicate authorized issues and insights into Israel’s judicial system.
Earlier than the October seventh incident, Shmuelevitz was concerned in a controversial humanitarian group referred to as Lev Kachol, which coordinated aid efforts throughout the Ukrainian battle.
Nonetheless, the group was accused of mishandling donations, with claims that the funds by no means reached their meant recipients. His involvement in Lev Kachol raised additional questions on his true motivations, as many individuals disassociated from him because of the controversy.
Regardless of this, Shmuelevitz had notable connections with Israeli elites, together with former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and had spoken earlier than Knesset committees on numerous events.
His political and social connections have fueled suspicions about his intentions and the way he was capable of infiltrate one in all Israel’s most safe army bases so simply.
Political Fallout and Delayed Navy Operations
In accordance with MK Almog Cohen, Shmuelevitz’s actions could have precipitated a delay in essential army operations, together with plans to rescue hostages and goal Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar.
Cohen revealed that the Gaza battle was initially scheduled to start on a selected date, however senior IDF officers referred to as for its postponement attributable to considerations that operational plans had been compromised by Shmuelevitz’s infiltration.
Cohen’s publicity of the case on Channel 14’s Hapatriotim program has prompted a backlash.
In response, Israeli prosecutors reopened an previous case towards Cohen from his time as a particular operations police officer, the place he was accused of beating a terrorist.
This transfer has been seen as an try and silence Cohen and stop additional revelations in regards to the espionage case. Equally, MK Tali Gottlieb reported being informed by numerous political figures and police officers to remain quiet in regards to the scandal.
The Position of Ayala Hasson’s Reporting
Investigative journalist Ayala Hasson has performed a pivotal position in exposing the deeper layers of this scandal. On her tv program, Hasson revealed that Shmuelevitz’s former commander within the IDF had denied claims that Shmuelevitz suffered from psychiatric points, contradicting the state’s portrayal of him as mentally unstable.
Psychiatric professionals who reviewed movies of Shmuelevitz publicly additionally challenged the assertion that he was unwell, elevating considerations that the psychiatric prognosis was getting used as a software to suppress him.
Hasson additional reported that Shmuelevitz’s psychiatric analysis was carried out by way of Zoom, a technique deemed insufficient for such a critical case.
Her revelations have led to widespread worry that Shmuelevitz is being silenced, with comparisons being drawn to Jeffrey Epstein, the financier who died below mysterious circumstances in custody.
Hasson’s reporting has been essential in retaining public consideration on the case and in questioning the motivations of these concerned in suppressing the reality.
Unanswered Questions and Rising Hypothesis
The espionage case involving Assaf Shmuelevitz has left Israel with way more questions than solutions. Who devised the plan, and why? What position did Achim Leneshek and its influential members play within the operation? And most significantly, who acquired the categorised intelligence that Shmuelevitz gathered throughout his time contained in the IDF Southern Command?
MK Almog Cohen and journalist Ayala Hasson’s investigations recommend that the reality is being intentionally hid. As extra particulars emerge, the implications for Israel’s safety and political integrity proceed to develop, elevating considerations about how deeply compromised the nation’s army establishments could have been throughout one in all its most important moments in latest historical past.
The general public awaits additional revelations as stress mounts on Israeli officers to come back clear in regards to the full extent of this espionage scandal.
