Gallant: Egyptian Warnings Before Oct. 7 First Heard Via Media

Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated on Sunday that he only learned about alleged Egyptian warnings regarding Hamas's planned attack on October 7 through media reports in recent days. "I am hearing about these warnings in the media for the first time," Gallant said in an interview with Army Radio (Galei Tzahal), adding that if true, such warnings are a security asset, not a political one.

Gallant also addressed claims that the head of Egyptian intelligence visited Israel in the days leading up to the Hamas attack. He stated that he has no recollection of such an event occurring and that it was not handled by those under his command. "I do not recall an event of the head of Egyptian intelligence landing in Israel in the days before October 7. Such an event did not happen to my knowledge and was not managed by my subordinates," he said.

However, Gallant confirmed that a different message was received from Hamas via the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) around that time. He stated that the message, which indicated that Sinwar would "shake up the prisons," was interpreted by the Shin Bet and Military Intelligence Directorate as an attempt to secure the release of Israeli researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who had been abducted in Iraq.