Sept. 15 intelligence warnings about a Hamas “earthquake” and “huge surprise” were relayed to Benjamin Netanyahu nearly two weeks before Oct. 7, but he did not brief the IDF, Mossad or other officials, Haaretz reported.
A defense ministry meeting on Sept. 17 produced no decisions, and a 45-minute call from UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed warning that “something there is about to explode” also failed to trigger action.
The report says Netanyahu had already scaled back prisoner releases and delayed an exchange committee, helping collapse talks with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in September and further destabilize the situation.
About 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Oct. 7 attack; a senior Shin Bet official said fuller awareness of the warnings might have changed Israel’s threat assessment.
Naftali Bennett called Netanyahu’s conduct “criminal negligence” and renewed demands for a state commission of inquiry, while Netanyahu’s office has denied he received any personal warning.