Conspiracy theories questioning how former IDF Major General Yair Golan arrived at Gaza border communities on the morning of October 7 have continued to circulate on social media. In response, Kan News correspondent Roi Yanovsky published a detailed post systematically refuting each claim with documented facts.
Addressing questions about how Golan was "ready and dressed at such an early hour," Yanovsky clarified that Golan had no advance knowledge beyond what was publicly available. The first air raid sirens sounded at 6:29 a.m., and within thirty minutes, footage of Hamas pickup trucks in Sderot was circulating on social media. Anyone monitoring news outlets understood a major attack was underway, and Golan, like numerous other citizens and reservists, simply headed south. Regarding weapons, the journalist explained that Golan contacted the Home Front Command commander and officially signed out firearms and equipment at the command headquarters.
Yanovsky also addressed a widely circulated photograph in which Golan allegedly appears "smiling" next to a Hamas vehicle. He quoted Oz Davidian, who rescued dozens of young people from the Nova music festival: "When we finished getting the kids out, I wanted people to know we were there, so I asked for a selfie and then we split up. They cropped me out of the photo and left only Yair. The pickup truck you see reflected in the sunglasses is my vehicle. yes, it resembles a Hamas truck, but it's my car."
In response to claims that "there's no evidence he saved anyone," Yanovsky listed multiple witnesses, journalists, and civilians who were rescued. These included journalists Omri Maniv and Sharon Eidan who documented Golan in the field; journalist Nir Gontaz, whose son Golan rescued based on real-time location sharing; Roni Gaon, whose son and two friends Golan evacuated; and Golan's joining a Yahalom unit operating in the area.
He concluded by sarcastically addressing the "pressed uniform" claim, noting two possibilities: either a retired general's uniforms stored in a closet aren't worn out, "or right after coordinating the massacre details with Hamas, he did the most logical thing --- and pulled out an iron."
