Ex-Netanyahu Aide Details Warnings Ignored Before War

Former Military Secretary to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Maj. Gen. (res.) Avi Gil, has broken his silence in a series of interviews, revealing details about the prime minister's handling of pre-war intelligence and hostage negotiations. Gil, who served as Netanyahu's military secretary until about two years ago, had previously remained quiet, awaiting a commission of inquiry that has not yet been formed. His testimony offers a counterpoint to Netanyahu's accounts and provides insight into the prime minister's reactions.

Gil confirmed that Netanyahu received significant warnings about a potential war starting in February 2023, two and a half months before the outbreak of hostilities on October 7. He described a particularly alarming incident in July 2023 when then-Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar urgently requested to speak with Netanyahu, who was hospitalized. Using rare code words, Bar informed Netanyahu, via a secure line facilitated by Gil, that "a warning of war" had been issued. Gil's account suggests Netanyahu largely dismissed these warnings, questioning his decision-making and detachment from security assessments.

Furthermore, Gil corroborated claims made by former head of the Hostages and Missing Persons Directorate, Maj. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon, regarding hostage negotiations. Gil stated that political considerations led to the deaths of hostages who could have been released alive. He explicitly confirmed that political reasons resulted in the deaths of hostages who could have been returned alive.

Gil also provided testimony regarding an alleged attempt by former head of the Prime Minister's Office, Tzachi Braverman, to alter the timestamp on a crucial protocol. This protocol documented Gil informing Netanyahu that Israel was at war. Braverman reportedly tried to change the recorded time of this notification to an earlier moment, potentially to create a false impression that Netanyahu received the full update immediately after the initial Hamas attack began. Gil stated he witnessed this attempt and reported it to the Attorney General, deeming the action potentially criminal.

Gil's interviews cover three main areas: the warnings Netanyahu allegedly ignored, the prime minister's decision-making in hostage release negotiations, and attempts to alter facts and protocols. Gil, described as acting with personal and professional integrity, indicated that while he previously presented his perspective on events in the Prime Minister's Office, his testimony on actions bordering on criminal offenses involved his active participation and reporting to the Attorney General.