Ex-Shin Bet Chief Sues Netanyahu for $810,000 Over Hamas Warnings

Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has filed a NIS 3 million (approximately $810,000) defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Tel Aviv District Court. Bar alleges that he repeatedly warned Netanyahu about Hamas's growing strength and the imminent danger of war from November 2022 until shortly before the October 7th attacks. According to the lawsuit, Netanyahu accused Bar of "crimes" in an attempt to deflect responsibility for the intelligence failures.

Bar claims that Netanyahu's actions, including preventing the establishment of any investigative committee and manipulating public opinion, left him no choice but to seek legal recourse. The lawsuit details a series of warnings Bar claims to have issued to Netanyahu, including recommendations for targeted actions against Hamas leaders and strategic warnings about an impending war, which were allegedly met with indifference or minimal responses.

Netanyahu, in turn, has accused Bar of seeing warning signs on the night of the attacks and failing to contact him directly, despite having a direct line. Bar counters that Netanyahu never provided him with his personal mobile number, and communication was always routed through intermediaries like the Military Secretary and Chief of Staff, a procedure that continued even after October 7th.

The lawsuit also addresses the controversial transfer of Qatari funds to Gaza, with Bar alleging Netanyahu supported the transfers despite Shin Bet warnings that some funds were used for Hamas's military buildup. This echoes a similar warning from former Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman in 2019.

Bar is seeking NIS 3 million in damages, a court order for the disclosure of documents, a ruling on Netanyahu's parliamentary immunity, and a retraction or denial of Netanyahu's statements. He acknowledges partial responsibility for the intelligence failures, having resigned in April 2025, but argues that responsibility should be divided based on facts, not amplified accusations. The lawsuit highlights the government's repeated obstruction of a state commission of inquiry into the failures, suggesting that a defamation suit is the only remaining avenue to uncover the truth, especially given the potential for parliamentary immunity to shield Netanyahu from legal accountability.