Head of Southern Command Major General Yaron Finkelman stressed that the conversations were ongoing throughout the night
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“This wasn’t just one or two discussions, it was an entire sequence
We treated it with utmost seriousness of course, with incorrect conclusions but with utmost seriousness”
Finkelman also defended the conduct of the troops who responded to the attack as it unfolded
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“Though communities were left defenseless as marauding terrorists spread throughout the region, murdering and committing atrocities -- the insufficient forces who were there fought bravely”
Finkelman said,
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"Everyone sought to engage [the enemy]" “We had exceptional cases where they didn’t and we also investigated and examined those and we can point them out"
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I think this was a terrible day in terms of its outcomes
“But… the people of Israel and the security forces sought engagement They ran into gunfire to save civilians”
Finkelman added,
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“I had made a mistake in something related to you, the civilians"
"I think the way we handled your evacuation from the communities — both in terms of speed, method and even attitude — was not good enough and I see this as my personal mistake”
