Israeli Ministers' Schedules on October 7th Under Scrutiny

An examination of the schedules of Israeli ministers on October 7, 2023, reveals significant gaps in their activities during the Hamas attack, with many failing to respond to the crisis effectively. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's schedule shows he did not speak with the IDF Chief of Staff until 9:55 AM, over three and a half hours after the massacre began. Minister Shlomo Karai's panicked journey in a protected vehicle from his home in the Gaza envelope to Tel Aviv, while criticizing Yair Golan's bravery in rescuing people, has drawn public criticism.

The report, based on freedom of information requests and interviews, indicates that most of the 32 ministers did not grasp their roles during the emergency. Many were absent from their duties for extended periods, while others pursued individual initiatives instead of taking overall responsibility. Some claimed they intended to fight physically but were unable to. While government and cabinet meetings were held, many ministers' personal schedules show little to no activity for hours after the attack commenced.

Several ministers, including Israel Katz, Shlomo Karai, Yitzhak Wasserlauf, and David Amsalem, had no recorded activities until the evening government meeting, nearly 12 hours after the attack. Their responses to inquiries about their actions during the crucial morning hours were minimal or non-existent. For instance, Katz, as Energy Minister, refused to reveal his schedule until compelled by a court order, and his documented activities related to energy infrastructure during the emergency were limited.

Ministers like Gila Gamliel and Avi Dichter also faced questions about their schedules, with Gamliel's itinerary showing unexplained gaps and security-related redactions, while Dichter's schedule was largely empty until he attended the cabinet meeting. Itamar Ben-Gvir, the National Security Minister, held his first security assessment meeting at 10 AM, hours after the attack began and critical incidents like the battle for the Sderot police station had already occurred.

Other ministers, including those responsible for vital sectors like health, welfare, and infrastructure, also showed delayed responses. Moshe Arbel, the Health Minister, only arrived at the Health Ministry's situation room at noon, despite hospitals being overwhelmed with casualties since morning. Yaakov Margi, the Social Equality Minister, only began operating in his ministry's capacity after the evening government meeting.

Notably, Ministers Miri Regev and Nir Barkat were abroad on October 7th. Regev was on a private vacation in Mexico, and Barkat was on an official visit to Japan. Their schedules show limited activity on the day of the attack, with Barkat only returning to Israel on October 8th and Regev's spokesperson refusing to confirm when she began her flight back.

Some ministers, like Amichai Eliyahu, did not submit their schedules at all. Others, like Orit Strock, claimed their empty schedules reflected the chaos and their focus on life-saving efforts, though her spokesperson denied reports of her making light of the situation. The report highlights a general lack of preparedness and proactive engagement among many government officials during the initial hours of the unprecedented attack.