If your work is suddenly and unexpected roadblocked at the last second by internal review, the only way to make changes that prevent that from happening in the future is to clearly understand the situations and criticisms that led to the roadblock. This is why understanding who raised these concerns is important. Anonymous feedback blowing up a project at the final moments is sure to frustrate anybody. If what she has said is true then it was also very difficult for her to even have access to the substance of the critique in the first place, with the initial story from her management being that she would not be able to see the documents explaining why the paper was to be retracted.
The critique here appears to have been fairly minor, too. Failing to cite some recent research is rarely grounds for rejection.
The critique here appears to have been fairly minor, too. Failing to cite some recent research is rarely grounds for rejection.