Netanyahu Contradicts Himself on Pre-Oct. 7 Gaza Policy, Report Claims

A new investigative report by "Yediot Ahronot's" "7 Yamin" magazine details conflicting accounts and directives from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Gaza policy in the lead-up to the October 7th Hamas attack. The report, building on previous coverage of the security and intelligence communities, focuses on the National Security Council, the government, the cabinet, and the Prime Minister's office.

Central to the investigation is the flow of Qatari funds to Hamas. Netanyahu has maintained that these funds were for civilian needs and did not support terrorism. However, the report cites intelligence sources and documents suggesting the Prime Minister was repeatedly warned that the money ultimately contributed to Hamas's military buildup. A specific focus is placed on a meeting on October 1st, 2023, where then-Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar reportedly advocated for confronting Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi called for preparing a campaign in Gaza. Netanyahu, conversely, prioritized peace with Saudi Arabia and quiet in Gaza.

The Prime Minister's office, through spokespeople, has vehemently denied these claims, labeling the report a "recycling of baseless lies" and asserting that the intelligence community initiated the Qatari money transfers. They also contested the account of the October 1st meeting, stating that Bar sought to avoid targeted killings, while Netanyahu recommended them in case of escalation.

However, the "7 Yamin" report presents internal documents from Netanyahu's office from late September and early October 2023. These documents reportedly show Netanyahu's directives to "increase the use" of humanitarian aid and "advance civilian arrangements" with Hamas, alongside "advancing operational readiness for recommended assassinations." This contradicts Netanyahu's later statements to the State Comptroller, where he claimed to emphasize deterrence and weakening Hamas, while attributing the focus on civilian benefits to the security establishment.

The report argues that Netanyahu's own directives reveal he was the one who ordered the increase in aid and the pursuit of civilian arrangements with Hamas, directly challenging his public narrative. It also scrutinizes the framing of directives regarding potential strikes on Hamas leadership, suggesting that while Netanyahu's office presented them as preparations for emergencies or recommendations, his own documents indicate a more direct, albeit cautious, approach to potential action.