Benjamin Netanyahu announced he will sue the Israeli newspaper Haaretz for defamation, after an investigation by the publication alleged that the Israeli prime minister received, before the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, a warning about the Palestinian extremist group's intentions.
The Haaretz newspaper published an investigation according to which Netanyahu received specific information about Hamas's plans before the attack that killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel and led to the beginning of the war in Gaza.
Netanyahu categorically rejected the allegations, denying having received any prior warning about the October 7 attack, and announced he will pursue legal action against Haaretz for defamation.
The controversy arises at a politically sensitive time for Netanyahu, who faces criticism for how his government managed security before the attack, in a context where hundreds of hostages remain in captivity in Gaza.
