Israel Was Warned of Hamas Attack on October 7, Ex-Defense Minister Says: What Did Netanyahu Know? | Today’s news
Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant confirmed that Israel had received advance warning of a planned Hamas offensive before the October 7, 2023 attack, raising new questions about whether Israeli leaders acted adequately on intelligence before the attack.
Gallant told Army Radio that a warning was received through a channel operated by Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency.
The warning indicated that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing an offensive against Israel.
Gallant calls Netanyahu’s actions a ‘fundamental failure’
Gallant’s remarks come amid reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also received warnings from regional partners about a potential large-scale attack by Hamas.
Referring to the reports, Gallant said Netanyahu’s handling of the warnings amounted to a “fundamental failure to assess the overall situation.”
Read also | Netanyahu was warned of a Hamas attack days before October 7, new book claims
The former defense minister also claimed that senior Israeli security officials, including himself, were not informed of some sensitive discussions involving Netanyahu and foreign governments.
The UAE and Egypt reportedly warned Israel
Earlier this month, journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval reported in their book Hostage: 843 Days of Abandonment that UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed had personally warned Netanyahu of the planned attack by Hamas.
According to the report, the UAE leader learned that Sinwar was preparing an operation that could have wider regional implications.
The warning was not passed on to Israeli security agencies, the report said.
Separately, The Atlantic reported that Egypt also warned Israel that Hamas was mobilizing for a major attack.
Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel reportedly traveled to Israel to deliver the warning in person.
Citing officials familiar with the matter, the magazine said the visit was intended to raise concerns at the highest levels of the Israeli government.
The October 7 attack exposed intelligence failures
On October 7, 2023, Hamas-led fighters launched a large-scale attack from Gaza into southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
The attack prompted Israel to launch a military campaign in Gaza that resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths and widespread destruction of the entire enclave.
The failure to prevent or adequately respond to the attack has since become the subject of investigation and intense political debate within Israel.
Gallant says Netanyahu kept officials in the dark
Gallant also alleged that Netanyahu failed to brief senior security officials about important conversations with US officials during the war.
He said he repeatedly learned of discussions involving highly sensitive issues, including hostage and ammunition negotiations, only after US officials contacted him to verify what Netanyahu had told them.
Gallant said this reflected a lack of trust between the US side and Netanyahu, adding that he was often told about important talks after the fact.
