Likud Minister Shlomo Karhi Questions Yair Golan’s Actions During October 7 Hamas Attack

In the days following the October 7 Hamas attack, conspiracy theories circulated online doubting the bravery of Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Party and former IDF deputy chief of staff, who reportedly fought valiantly and rescued people in the Gaza border area during the assault. On August 2, 2026, Likud’s Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi publicly joined these conspiracy claims, casting doubt on Golan’s heroism. In an interview with journalist Yuval Karni on Knesset Channel, Karhi questioned whether Golan fired a single bullet during the attack and accused him of merely posing for photos in uniform that morning. Karhi stated, "Did you see a video of him firing a single bullet? I don’t think he saved anyone on October 7."

Karhi also labeled Golan and other Democratic Party leaders, including MK Naama Lazimi and attorney Gabi Leski, as "supporters of terrorists." He contrasted them with figures like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, whom he described as "Zionists and lovers of the land," while calling Golan and his allies "lovers of terrorists." When pressed on whether he truly believed Golan saved no one, Karhi insisted that unless Golan was helping someone close to him, he did not believe he saved anyone.

This is not the first time a Likud member has questioned Golan’s conduct during the attack. Over a year ago, Knesset Deputy Speaker Nissim Vaturi expressed skepticism about Golan’s claims of heroism, suggesting some people prioritize toppling Prime Minister Netanyahu over truth. Since late 2024, Golan’s Democratic Party has filed defamation lawsuits in response to conspiracy theories accusing him of espionage and involvement in planning the Hamas attack, allegations spread by right-wing figures and some public officials, including Karhi and Vaturi. The party has documented hundreds of false reports targeting Golan since the war began.

The accusations remain baseless and unproven, but they continue to fuel political tensions amid ongoing security concerns in Israel.