Netanyahu Claims Security Chiefs Opposed Hamas Leader Assassinations
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented documents to the State Comptroller alleging that senior security officials repeatedly opposed actions against Hamas leaders, including assassinations, and the occupation of the Gaza Strip, in the years preceding the October 7th attack. Netanyahu claims that contrary to narratives of a policy of "containment" and "calm" towards Hamas, he advocated for more aggressive measures in closed-door discussions.
According to Netanyahu's account, during discussions in 2014 regarding Operation Protective Edge, the idea of occupying Gaza was raised but met with strong opposition from the security establishment, including then-IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz and Deputy Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, who deemed it a "strategic mistake." Then-Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and then-Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen also reportedly opposed a move to dismantle Hamas.
In September 2016, during a security discussion, then-Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman stated he knew of no one in Israel who wanted to return to military rule in Gaza. Then-Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman presented a different approach, suggesting a plan to weaken Hamas and potentially replace it. However, when Netanyahu asked if assassinating Hamas leaders like Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif would cause the organization to collapse, Argaman and Eisenkot reportedly said no, with Eisenkot stating it was wrong to topple Hamas's rule.
Further, in May 2021, then-IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi "strongly opposed" the idea of assassinating Sinwar, despite Netanyahu's assertion that eliminating leadership was necessary for deterrence. Most recently, in July 2023, just two months before the October 7th attack, Netanyahu claims he instructed Shin Bet head Ronen Bar to prepare for the immediate assassination of a senior Hamas official as a warning. However, according to Netanyahu, Bar, along with the IDF Chief of Staff and Defense Minister, preferred a less escalatory warning, such as restricting Palestinian worker entry into Israel. Netanyahu reportedly insisted on the assassination, even at the risk of escalation, but was again opposed by security officials.
Netanyahu's presented evidence aims to counter claims that his policy fostered Hamas's strength, arguing instead that his more aggressive proposals were consistently blocked by the security leadership. The documents and testimonies are part of an ongoing debate about the decisions and responsibilities leading up to the October 7th massacre.
