Yoav Gallant, who was serving as Israel's defense minister on October 7, sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a television interview Wednesday evening, disputing the premier's account of his response during the opening hours of the Hamas assault.
Speaking to Israel's Channel 12 News, Gallant described what he characterized as troubling behavior by Netanyahu in the critical early moments of the attack. "I arrived at the Kirya on October 7 at 8 a.m., Netanyahu only arrived at 10 a.m.," Gallant stated, referring to the Tel Aviv compound that houses Israel's military headquarters and defense establishment. His account places a two-hour gap between his own arrival and that of the prime minister.
Gallant went further in his criticism of Netanyahu's conduct that morning. "He projected a worrying defeatism," the former defense minister said. He also challenged claims that the two had spoken by phone during those hours. "I heard that he said we spoke on the phone during those hours. I don't recall such a conversation," Gallant said, casting doubt on Netanyahu's version of their communications during the crisis.
The former minister also pointed to visual documentation from that day as evidence. "Look at his pictures and mine from the day of the massacre, also in the days after, see who looks shocked. And I wasn't wearing makeup," Gallant said, suggesting that photographic records would support his characterization of their respective states during the emergency.
