Netanyahu Sues Media Outlets for $700,000 Over Pre-Oct. 7 Warnings

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has filed a defamation lawsuit seeking 2.6 million shekels (approximately $700,000) against several major Israeli media organizations and journalists. The suit, lodged with the Jerusalem District Court, stems from reports alleging that Netanyahu received warnings from officials in the UAE and Egypt about potential Hamas actions prior to the October 7th attacks but failed to relay them to security chiefs.

The lawsuit targets "Haaretz," "Yedioth Ahronoth," "ynet," "Channel 12 News," and individual journalists including Shlomi Eldar, Ruti Yuval, Uri Misgav, Nadav Eyal, Barak Ravid, and Attila Somfalvi. Netanyahu's legal team, led by attorney Uriel Nizar, describes the publications as "blood libels" and asserts that the alleged conversations never occurred.

Central to the suit are claims that Netanyahu was warned about a "major move" by Hamas by the UAE president about a week and a half before October 7th, and that Egypt's then-head of intelligence, Abbas Kamel, personally alerted Netanyahu about unusual developments from Gaza approximately ten days prior. Netanyahu vehemently denies both claims, stating no such meetings or calls took place between September 2023 and October 7th, 2023. The lawsuit notes the absence of any official records of such calls with the UAE president during the specified period.

The suit also addresses specific reports, including one in "Haaretz" alleging Netanyahu received a warning about Sinwar's intentions and another by Uri Misgav accusing Netanyahu of "betrayal" for allegedly abandoning Israel. Netanyahu argues these go beyond political criticism and constitute defamation. Similar allegations from "Channel 12 News" and Barak Ravid regarding the UAE warning are also contested.

Furthermore, the lawsuit targets reports in "Yedioth Ahronoth" and Nadav Eyal's column, which suggested the warning from Abu Dhabi was "stopped at Netanyahu." Netanyahu contends this represents a "circular spin," where Israeli journalists' information reappears in foreign media and is then presented back in Israel as international corroboration. He denies receiving the alleged warning from Abbas Kamel, stating no meeting or conversation occurred with him in the months preceding the attack.

Netanyahu is seeking at least 2.6 million shekels in damages, plus legal expenses, arguing that dozens of separate publications warrant compensation for each instance.