Ex-PM Aide Praises Military Secretary Amid Calls for Inquiry

Retired Major General Avi Gil, who served as the Military Secretary to the Prime Minister during the period leading up to the October 7th massacre, has broken his silence three years after the event and two years after his retirement from the IDF. In an interview published by "Israel Hayom," Gil stated that there are "too many lies in the air" and that the public deserves to know the truth about what happened on his watch. He expressed disappointment that a state commission of inquiry has not yet been established, despite his hopes, and expressed doubt that it will be. Gil said he was motivated to speak out by dozens of bereaved families and former hostages who asked him to testify to the truth as he witnessed and documented it in real-time, without interpretation or gossip.

Former Prime Minister Yair Lapid responded to Gil's statements, writing on X that he intentionally penned his remarks before seeing the interview. Lapid, who was prime minister when Gil served, stated that while he did not appoint Gil, he found him to be a "straight as a ruler, apolitical, professional, and impartial" officer.