The Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed that Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had prior knowledge of the Hamas attack on October 7, having received information about the offensive approximately 10 days before the date of the attack. According to the publication, Netanyahu had access to a document detailing Hamas's operational plan.
The Prime Minister did not share this information with the top Israeli security officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the commander of the Israel Defense Forces, Herzi Halevi. This decision reportedly left Israel vulnerable at the time of the attack.
Israeli security forces reportedly began detecting signs of the planned Hamas attack only the night before, when militia groups were seen approaching the border. This late discovery contrasts with the knowledge that Netanyahu already possessed.
The White House, for its part, announced that it does not have information confirming that Netanyahu was warned in advance about the attack. U.S. National Security spokesman John Kirby stated that Washington has no knowledge of any warning that the Israeli Prime Minister had received before the events of October 7.
