Ex-Shin Bet Agent Claims Hamas Attack Warning Ignored

A former Shin Bet agent, identified only as 'A.', claims that Israeli security leadership received intelligence about unusual activity in Gaza two days before the October 7th Hamas attack, but this information was not passed to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. The former agent, who reportedly worked in intelligence gathering and counter-terrorism for 37 years, stated that suspicious signals began as early as October 2nd, five days before the attack. He cited the sudden cessation of communication by individuals linked to terrorism and a loss of contact with a high-ranking Hamas operative, whose communication was then answered by an unknown individual with a Gaza dialect. 'A.' alleges that this information, indicating potential preparations for a large-scale operation, was passed through the unit leadership and deputy head of the Shin Bet directly to then-chief Ronen Bar on October 5th at approximately 4:00 PM, less than 48 hours before the attack. He asserts that despite this warning, no preventative actions were taken and the Prime Minister was not informed.

The Shin Bet has vehemently denied these accusations, calling the former employee's account unreliable and contradictory to internal investigations and Hamas documents recovered during the war. The agency stated that senior Hamas officials were not privy to the exact date of the attack, which contradicts the former agent's narrative of key figures disappearing before the assault. Ronen Bar also issued a separate denial, calling the story untrue and stating that investigative materials, testimonies, and recovered documents refute the claims about Hamas operatives' actions prior to the attack.

Following the Shin Bet's denials, 'A.' reportedly stood by his testimony and offered to take a polygraph test, but not within Shin Bet facilities. The news outlet that published the story, Channel 14, acknowledged significant discrepancies between the former agent's account and the official Shin Bet position after conducting its own additional checks. The former agent also claimed that after October 7th, he faced increased scrutiny within the Shin Bet, including polygraph tests with questions about self-harm intentions, which he perceived as a threat. He further alleged facing threats and eventual dismissal from the service, including claims of death threats, though he did not provide specific details.