Lapid Accuses Netanyahu of Ignoring Warnings Before Oct. 7 Attack
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of ignoring multiple warnings about an impending Hamas attack before October 7. Lapid cited specific dates and intelligence reports, including a warning of war risk on July 24 and a rejection of preemptive operations on October 1. The Likud party denied these claims, stating Netanyahu received no prior alert and that security assessments indicated Hamas sought calm. The political dispute intensifies amid ongoing debates about accountability for the attack.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Yair Lapid accused Benjamin Netanyahu of ignoring multiple warnings before the October 7 Hamas attack.
- Lapid cited a July 24 warning from the Shin Bet chief and a rejected Gaza operation on October 1.
- The Likud party claimed Netanyahu received no prior alert and security assessments showed Hamas sought calm.
- Lapid questioned Netanyahu's fear of a state inquiry commission into the October 7 failures.
- The Likud defended Netanyahu's post-October 7 actions and accused Channel 12 of a political campaign.
Israeli politics have reignited over responsibility for the failures preceding the October 7 Hamas attack, with opposition leader Yair Lapid accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of ignoring multiple warnings. The Likud party, Netanyahu's party, issued a statement asserting the Prime Minister received no prior alert of a Hamas offensive from Gaza. They claimed security assessments before October 7, 2023, indicated Hamas was deterred and seeking calm, citing a September 3 intelligence note suggesting relief measures could maintain stability. The Likud stated Netanyahu was only informed of the attack at 6:29 a.m. on October 7 and blamed others for not alerting him or relevant forces.
Lapid directly contested this narrative, recalling a September 20, 2023, press conference where he warned of a security catastrophe based on information he claims Netanyahu also possessed. He stated the Shin Bet chief warned Netanyahu of war risk on July 24, and another alert about potential multi-front escalation was presented in September. Lapid further alleged that on October 1, 2023, Netanyahu rejected proposed preemptive operations in Gaza by the Shin Bet and IDF, fearing it would jeopardize normalization efforts with Saudi Arabia. He also accused Netanyahu of disregarding warnings that Qatari funds sent to Gaza were being used by Hamas's armed wing for weapons acquisition.
The Likud defended Netanyahu's post-October 7 actions, highlighting the ground offensive in Gaza, operations against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, and the return of hostages. The party also accused Channel 12 of conducting a political campaign to oust the government during the election period. Lapid concluded by questioning Netanyahu's fear of a state inquiry commission, reiterating, "Netanyahu was at the head of the system. The massacre of October 7 took place. He is guilty. He is responsible."
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