Exclusive report: Netanyahu's secret plan to concede to Hamas just days before the October 7 attack

According to a report by the Kan public broadcaster, Netanyahu recommended that Israel's security establishment consider increasing humanitarian benefits to influence Hamas's behavior.

This suggestion came during a meeting held on October 1, 2023, just days before the attack. The discussion followed a series of violent protests along the Gaza border fence that had occurred in the previous week. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) later indicated that they believed these protests were part of Hamas’s effort to lull Israel into a false sense of security, making it appear as though the situation was stabilizing.

At the same time, Netanyahu instructed his defense officials to ensure that Israel’s operational readiness was increased in order to prevent potential Hamas attacks. Despite this, the focus of the discussion shifted toward using civilian concessions as a potential means of achieving quiet, an approach which Netanyahu seemed to support at the time.

However, in response to the report, Netanyahu's office issued a strong denial. The Prime Minister’s Office accused the Kan broadcaster of attempting to distract attention from the Shin Bet’s failure to prevent the Hamas attack. According to Netanyahu’s office, the Shin Bet had actually proposed using civilian benefits to appease Hamas, while Netanyahu himself had warned about the potential for escalation and advised the defense establishment not to overlook Hamas’s provocations.

This revelation adds a layer of complexity to the events leading up to the October 7 assault, as Israel grapples with the consequences of the security decisions made in the months prior.