Netanyahu's Account of Oct. 7 Contradicts Evidence, Journalists Find
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
Journalists Ronen Bergman and Yuval Rubowitz claim Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's account of the October 7th events, detailed in a 55-page document, contradicts evidence. Their investigation, published by Ynet, suggests Netanyahu omitted information and that prior directives aimed to maintain calm in Gaza. Documents indicate Netanyahu was aware of Hamas's attack plans, including the "Jericho Wall" scenario, as early as 2018. He also reportedly delayed proposed operations against Hamas leaders due to fears of escalation and impact on Saudi normalization.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Journalists claim Benjamin Netanyahu's account of Oct. 7 contradicts evidence and intelligence reports.
- Netanyahu's 55-page document to the State Comptroller presents his version of events.
- Prior directives from 2014-2023 aimed to maintain calm in Gaza and contain Hamas.
- Intelligence documents from 2018 and 2022 reportedly detailed Hamas's "Jericho Wall" attack plan.
- Netanyahu allegedly postponed eliminating Hamas leaders due to escalation fears and Saudi ties.
- Shin Bet head Ronen Bar proposed an operation against Hamas leaders in July 2023.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has presented his own narrative of the events of October 7, which sharply diverges from established facts, according to an investigation by journalists Ronen Bergman and Yuval Rubowitz. Their findings, published by Ynet, analyze a 55-page document Netanyahu submitted in February 2026 to the State Comptroller.
In his document, Netanyahu claims he repeatedly warned of the Hamas threat and advocated for decisive action, but was assured by military and intelligence officials that Hamas was contained and not seeking war. He also alleges that crucial intelligence, including details of a large-scale attack preparation, was withheld from him.
Bergman and Rubowitz compared Netanyahu's statements with intelligence data, meeting minutes, and internal reports. They found that the Prime Minister often omitted information contradicting his version. Documents from 2014, 2019, 2020, and 2023 indicate that maintaining calm in Gaza and preventing escalation were political leadership goals, with a 2020 directive aiming to keep Hamas in power as a contained force.
Netanyahu's office acknowledged in an April 2024 document that avoiding confrontation influenced the IDF's strategy. Despite blaming military intelligence and Shin Bet for misjudging Hamas's restraint, Netanyahu publicly presented this assessment as a success of his policy in spring 2023.
Regarding the Hamas "Jericho Wall" plan, journalists found that military intelligence had prepared a document in April 2018 detailing a scenario of 3,000 militants attacking military and civilian targets, which was intended for the Prime Minister. Furthermore, Netanyahu received documents in November 2022 from a Southern Command meeting that directly mentioned this plan.
Bergman and Rubowitz also report that Netanyahu repeatedly postponed proposals to eliminate Hamas leaders, fearing a new Gaza war and potentially jeopardizing normalization talks with Saudi Arabia. On July 31, 2023, Shin Bet head Ronen Bar proposed such an operation, but Netanyahu cited the risk of escalation.
