Netanyahu Warned of Hamas Threat Before October Attack but Ignored Warnings

In the days leading up to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explicitly warned of the risk Hamas posed to the historic peace agreement with Saudi Arabia. During a security discussion, Netanyahu cautioned that certain "states and organizations" might try to sabotage the deal, implicitly referring to Hamas and Iran as key threats. Despite this, Netanyahu approved a series of easing measures for Palestinians shortly before the assault.

A Twitter user named TULIP had also predicted the attack weeks earlier, noting that Hamas would likely try to disrupt the Saudi-Israel normalization by escalating violence. TULIP tweeted minutes after the attack began, confirming it was a serious move to prevent the agreement. Netanyahu himself questioned the rocket fire early on, but his prior warnings about Hamas’s motives were not acted upon by the military or intelligence agencies.

The article criticizes Netanyahu’s leadership, highlighting a disconnect between his warnings and subsequent policies that failed to prepare Israel adequately. It also discusses a political attack by Likud’s Yinnon Magal on former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot’s family, which the author condemns as inappropriate and divisive.

The piece further suggests that the opposition, including figures like Yair Lapid and Gadi Eizenkot, should focus on practical security and social issues rather than engaging in political infighting. It calls for a more united and strategic approach to Israel’s security and political challenges.

Finally, the article touches on internal issues within Netanyahu’s circle, describing a toxic environment marked by racism and control, with Netanyahu portrayed as weak in the face of domineering aides. This paints a picture of a leadership struggling with both external threats and internal dysfunction.