An extraordinary row broke out overnight in Israel’s war cabinet after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to blame security and intelligence officials for failing to detect signs that Hamas’s devastating invasion was imminent.
Netanyahu, who faced the ire of the opposition and Israeli border communities over security lapses before the October 7 Hamas attack, made the accusations in a post overnight, which he later deleted and replaced with an apology.
It exposed apparent infighting within Israel’s emergency government after what was intended as a show of unity between Netanyahu, Defense Minister Gallant and Knesset member Benny Gantz.
The members of the war cabinet released a joint statement announcing the expansion of ground operations in Gaza and saying the country was “more united than ever” last night, but Netanyahu’s comments shortly afterwards provoked widespread reaction.
“Never, under any circumstances, was Prime Minister Netanyahu warned of Hamas’s intention to start a war,” his now-deleted post on the prime minister’s account read.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to blame security and intelligence officials for failing to detect signs of Hamas’ devastating invasion
Hamas militants kidnapped 230 hostages from kibbutz communities, a music festival, towns and military bases in southern Israel during the October 7 attack.
“On the contrary, all security officials, including the head of military intelligence and the head of Shin Bet (Israel’s internal security service), believed that Hamas had been deterred.
“This was the assessment that was submitted to the Prime Minister and the (security) Cabinet again and again by all security officials and the intelligence community, until the outbreak of war.”
The message was published X hours after Netanyahu gave a press conference late on Saturday in which he was asked whether he had been warned of the danger of an attack.
It was removed Sunday morning and replaced a few minutes later.
“I was wrong,” he stated in the new post.
“Things I said after the press conference should not have been said, and for that I apologize.
“I fully support all heads of the security establishment. I support the Military Chief of Staff and the commanders and soldiers of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) who are on the front lines fighting for our home. Together we will win,” he wrote.
Minister Gantz, a retired general and member of Israel’s war cabinet, urged Netanyahu to withdraw the statement.
Israeli opposition politician Yair Lapid also criticized Netanyahu, saying the prime minister has “crossed a red line.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz speak during a press conference at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv
Israeli soldiers inspect the site of a music festival near the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel on Friday, October 13
He recently criticized the government for not being “present” and “failing to overcome the ‘shock’ of October 7, which Israel claims left 1,400 dead, most of them civilians.”
At Saturday’s news conference, Netanyahu said there had been a “terrible failure” before the attacks, with Hamas militants also kidnapping 230 hostages from kibbutz communities, a music festival, towns and military bases in southern Israel.
‘There has been a terrible failure and it will be looked at intensively. No stone will be left unturned. Right now, my mission is to save the country and lead the soldiers to total victory over Hamas and the forces of evil.”
A view of the remains of a mosque and houses destroyed by Israeli attacks in the central Gaza Strip
Israeli soldiers prepare for ground maneuvers at a secret location near the Gaza border
Several political analysts say the right-wing prime minister’s political career will be ended after the war due to security shortcomings as he has made Israel’s defense a cornerstone of his political campaigns.
The head of the Likud party would come under significant pressure if an independent investigation found the government negligent.
While Netanyahu has said there will be an investigation, he has provided no details on how it would be handled.
Israel declared war in the wake of Hamas’ bloody invasion, which included brutal aerial bombardments on the densely populated Gaza Strip, home to some 2.3 million people.
The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says more than 8,000 people have been killed in Israeli air and ground strikes since Israel declared war just over three weeks ago.