Likud: security chiefs told Netanyahu Hamas was deterred

The Likud released on Wednesday a series of quotations from intelligence assessments delivered to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the Hamas attack of October 7. The party said the heads of the security establishment never warned of an attack from Gaza, but instead presented assessment after assessment that Hamas was deterred and interested in maintaining calm.

According to Likud, Netanyahu received no advance warning of the attack. The party cited statements by US President Donald Trump, former Biden adviser Brett McGurk, the governments of the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, and others.

The party pointed to official protocols Netanyahu submitted to the State Comptroller, and said security chiefs told him to grant Hamas humanitarian relief in order to "preserve the quiet".

Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar (Photo: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90) (Photo: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

An intelligence report dated May 31 stated: "Hamas is seeking new arenas in order to keep the Gaza Strip stable." Another report from July 23 did not, according to Likud, include a scenario of escalation from Gaza. The report stated: "At this stage, the clear and immediate danger in our assessment of escalation is with emphasis on the Lebanese arena."

Likud also noted that on October 1, IDF research division chief Amit Saar said: "Sinwar's desire is to return to quiet." Two days later, the Shin Bet wrote to the prime minister: "Security quiet in exchange for relief embodies potential for preserving stability in the Strip, possibly even for a long time."

Likud said Netanyahu was first updated on the Hamas attack at 06:29 on the morning of October 7. According to the party, during the night there were officials who saw the warning signs in real time but did not update the police, the standby squads, the kibbutzim, the soldiers on the fence, the partygoers at the Nova festival, or the prime minister.

"If Prime Minister Netanyahu had been updated in real time, everything would have looked different," the party said.

Likud also attacked Channel 12's coverage marking the massacre: "We all bow our heads today in memory of the fallen and murdered of October 7. Unfortunately, on this very painful day, Channel 12 is broadcasting throughout the day false political propaganda against Prime Minister Netanyahu and Likud with the aim of toppling the right-wing government and leading to a left-wing government that will establish a Palestinian state."

The party credited Netanyahu with the decision to launch a ground operation in Gaza and with standing up to pressure to settle for airstrikes alone. It also credited him with the conquest of Gaza and Rafah, the release of hostages, the pager operation, the eliminations of Nasrallah, Sinwar and Deif, the capture of Mount Hermon, the elimination of Khamenei and Iranian nuclear scientists, and the removal of the Iranian nuclear threat.