Eisenkot: Oct. 7 Probes Will Shock on Netanyahu Role

Yisrael Party chairman MK (Res.) Maj. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning that intelligence investigations into the October 7 massacre will expose devastating findings about the premier's conduct.

In an interview with Kan Reshet Bet, Eisenkot criticized Netanyahu's performance during the first days of the war and his alleged disregard of advance warnings.

Asked whether he would agree to serve in a future government under a rotation agreement with Netanyahu, Eisenkot rejected the idea outright: "Netanyahu was the supreme commander, by his own account, on October 7. He was negligent in his role. I am familiar with the Shin Bet and Military Intelligence investigations, when they are published, the foundations will shake. Netanyahu, like all cabinet members on October 7, are unfit for leadership."

"Panicked and Gloomy" A Troubling Portrait from the Cabinet

Eisenkot shared his impressions from the first days of fighting, revealing the atmosphere in cabinet discussions following the surprise attack. "On October 11, I was quite alarmed by how I saw him, gloomy, he looked panicked," he recalled. "He didn't control the discussion; the discussion ran itself, and most of it was arguments between me and Gallant. Netanyahu occasionally said something, but the discussion largely flowed with him outside the conversation."

Against the backdrop of criticism over his and National Unity chairman Benny Gantz's decision to join the emergency government, Eisenkot emphasized their contribution during those critical days: "I felt in the first weeks that Gantz and I were saving the state. Netanyahu remembers that on the day of crisis he approached me and said, 'You saved us yesterday.' Despite this, he repeats lies day after day and claims I opposed conquering Gaza, while Likud ministers were the ones who voted against it."

Additionally, Eisenkot confirmed reports that a "warning call" was received at the Prime Minister's Office before the massacre, even if its source was not necessarily an official Emirati figure. "From checks I conducted, this is the truth," he clarified. "It's not certain the transmitter is from the Emirates, but he is a very senior source whom you can trust that if he passes this on, he knows exactly what he's talking about. He passed it to the Prime Minister's Office, which received it and did nothing."

The remarks come amid a turbulent election campaign, in which Eisenkot's Yisrael Party continues to lead in polls. According to a survey published on Channel 13, Eisenkot's party wins 22 seats, while Netanyahu's Likud receives 18 seats. However, the Netanyahu bloc rose for the first time in a long period to an advantage of 54 seats, compared to 52 for the change bloc.

It should be noted that just weeks ago, Defense Minister Israel Katz refused to unequivocally deny conspiracy theories surrounding the October 7 events, leaving vague openings for the difficult questions raised by the prime minister's wife, Sara Netanyahu.