‘Hamas used the IDF withdrawal to gain control of the region and build a well-organized military force.’

By Hezy Laing

Retired Colonel Gershon HaCohen, who oversaw the surrender of Gaza 20 years ago, recently told Channel 13 News that had Israel not withdrawn from the area, the massacre on October 7th would likely never have occurred.

“I supported keeping Gush Katif,” he said.

“I believed its presence was justified, and I couldn’t envision anything beneficial resulting from evacuating the bloc.”

HaCohen added that he later sought forgiveness for his actions and affirmed, “It’s both reasonable and meaningful to dream of resettling the Gaza Strip.”

According to Hacohen, the retreat laid the groundwork for the October 7 attack for several reasons.

Hamas used the IDF withdrawal to gain control of the region and built a well-organized military force.

“They formed a full military system—units, brigades, command chains. We found ourselves facing not just a terror group, but a functioning army minutes from Nahal Oz.”

HaCohen said that disengagement also enabled a surge of major arms shipments from Iran and Libya, transforming Gaza’s threat into one of strategic proportions.

“Once we exited the Philadelphia corridor (on the Egypt-Gaza border), the nature of the threat changed.

We weren’t facing homemade weapons anymore, but advanced munitions with regional implications.”

He added that Israeli settlements like Netzarim once effectively divided Gaza mitigating the threat.

Their removal severely weakened military positioning.