Ex-IDF Chief Eisenkot Claims Netanyahu's Office Alerted 3 Hours Before Oct. 7 Hamas Attack

Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot stated on Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office received intelligence about unusual activity in the Gaza Strip approximately three hours before the Hamas attack commenced. Speaking at a conference, Eisenkot asserted that information available to the IDF Chief of Staff and the Shin Bet director was also passed to Netanyahu's intelligence advisor.

When questioned about the Prime Minister's office's awareness of these signals, Eisenkot confirmed, "Absolutely. I know it. His office receives the accumulating intelligence as soon as it is presented to the Chief of Staff and the Shin Bet director." He clarified that he was not claiming Netanyahu personally saw the information before the Oct. 7 assault, but insisted the Prime Minister must explain why such intelligence might not have reached him.

"He must ask himself how he built an environment that does not inform him of important elements, and he can only blame himself," Eisenkot declared. He added that Netanyahu's office and his intelligence advisor were receiving situation reports held by the IDF and Shin Bet from as early as 3:30 AM on the day of the attack. The Prime Minister's office had no immediate comment.

Eisenkot also accused Netanyahu's political circle of promoting conspiracy theories to deflect responsibility for the Oct. 7 failures. He countered Netanyahu's recent description of the event as "not a betrayal, but a failure," stating, "It is much more than a failure. It is a profound negligence that occurred under his responsibility."

Furthermore, Eisenkot called Netanyahu's remarks about his potential election marking "the beginning of the end of the State of Israel" as "hysterical and irresponsible." As elections approach, Eisenkot urged parties near the electoral threshold to act "responsibly" to prevent wasted votes within the bloc opposing the Prime Minister.