Ex-Netanyahu Aide Denies Betrayal, Cites Intelligence Gaps

The former Military Secretary to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who served during the October 7th attack, has rejected claims of betrayal leading to the massacre. Speaking on Channel 12, Avi Gil asserted that security warnings were presented to the Prime Minister prior to the attack, but a gap exists between what was discussed in security meetings and public accounts.

Gil emphasized that there was no betrayal and warned that such accusations harm Israeli society's resilience. He criticized the lack of a state commission of inquiry three years after the attack, stating it pollutes public discourse and widens the chasm between facts and public information. He called for such a commission to investigate the circumstances of the failures.

Recounting the hours before the attack, Gil stated that intelligence flowed through systems, reaching the research division and intelligence directorate. This information included suspicious and also reassuring signs. At 3:55 AM, an intelligence aide in the Prime Minister's office was alerted to a message marked "routine," with a further consultation planned. The aide, deeming no urgency, did not wake the Prime Minister or Gil.

Gil explained this was a professional decision by an intelligence officer, as the Chief of Staff and Shin Bet head typically communicate through the Military Secretary. He described being woken at 6:12 AM by the Shin Bet chief of staff's office, and by 6:17 AM was updated on suspicious signs like SIM card activations and Hamas operatives going underground. At 6:29 AM, he woke Netanyahu, informing him of a "wide surprise attack" by Hamas and promising an update. By 6:40 AM, he informed the Prime Minister, "We are at war."

When asked if waking Netanyahu earlier would have changed things, Gil suggested it was rare for a Prime Minister to overrule security establishment recommendations. He reiterated that accusations of betrayal were unfounded, demanding evidence and calling them a severe failure and misinterpretation, not intentional concealment. He questioned who benefits from spreading such conspiracy theories.

Gil also criticized a document Netanyahu submitted to the State Comptroller, claiming it misrepresented his role and took many statements out of context. He stated that warnings over weeks described Israel's enemies recognizing internal divisions and weakened deterrence, and that the Defense Minister was aware of the danger, though no specific warning for an attack from Gaza existed.

He mentioned that in July 2023, the Shin Bet head sought to speak with Netanyahu about a war warning. He also claimed that the heads of Military Intelligence and Operations requested to present assessments to decision-makers before the attack but were not heeded. "There were many discussions. Everything was said," he stressed.

Regarding potential warnings from Arab countries, Gil was unsure about a UAE president's warning but noted not all PM's office activities appear on schedules. He also couldn't confirm an Egyptian warning but recounted an incident involving an Egyptian intelligence aircraft staying in Israel for over an hour, suggesting a possible visit that warrants investigation.

Gil again called for a state commission of inquiry to clarify pre-attack warnings, decision-makers' information, and discrepancies between documentation and public narratives. He raised serious concerns about attempts to alter records of discussions and conversations after the war began, stating that by late October 2023, efforts to change and collect protocols commenced. He approached the Attorney General to intervene and clarify procedures.

In January 2024, a stenographer reportedly told Gil that Tzachi Braverman instructed her to change the transcript of the 6:40 AM call on October 7th to appear as if it occurred at 6:29 AM. The stenographer allegedly refused, stating the call was recorded. Gil questioned why such a change was pursued in January and called the act "forgery," informing the Attorney General.

The Likud party responded, accusing Gil of attempting to deflect from his own failures with lies and claiming he knew about the impending attack but chose not to wake the Prime Minister. They alleged Gil received messages about suspicious signs at 3:55 AM and a warning from the Shin Bet at 6:15 AM, which he allegedly did not pass on. The Likud claimed Gil woke Netanyahu at 6:29 AM but only provided full details at 6:44 AM, calling his interviews attempts to obscure his "simple and painful failure."