Hebrew press sources reported deep gaps and stark contradictions in the narrative presented by the Prime Minister of the occupation, Benjamin Netanyahu, regarding the timing of his knowledge of Hamas's plans to carry out a large-scale attack. Reports indicated that leaked documents prove he received detailed strategic warnings years before the events of October 7, 2023.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper revealed that Netanyahu was fully aware of an intelligence file named 'Jericho Wall,' which contained precise details about the Palestinian movement's intention to launch a multi-front attack. This plan, developed between 2018 and 2022, focused on targeting military bases and settlement communities in the Gaza envelope area in a coordinated manner.
The warnings date back to mid-April 2018, when experts in the Military Intelligence Directorate (AMAN) prepared a special document that was distributed to the narrow circle of decision-makers. The list of recipients included Netanyahu's military aides, the then-Minister of Defense, as well as the heads of the Shin Bet and Mossad agencies and the National Security Council.
That document included fundamental questions about the nature of the military buildup of Hamas's military wing in the Gaza Strip, warning of the movement's intentions to seize strategic locations deep inside. Intelligence reports at the time confirmed that the exercises conducted by the movement were not merely a show of force, but a prelude to a large-scale invasion operation.
Despite this information, Netanyahu continued to deny prior knowledge of these documents to State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman, claiming that his office did not receive these reports until after the current confrontation erupted. This repeated denial put the political leadership in direct confrontation with the security agencies, which confirm the documented delivery of these reports on time.
Recent days witnessed a surprising turn, as Netanyahu submitted a lengthy 55-page response to the State Comptroller, implicitly acknowledging receipt of the 2018 report. However, media circles accused the Prime Minister of resorting to 'selective quoting' to mislead ongoing investigations into the major security failure.
According to journalistic investigations, Netanyahu deliberately quoted parts of the report that described the attack scenario as 'unlikely in the near term.' In contrast, he omitted essential paragraphs that explicitly stated that the plan reflected serious future ambitions of the movement, and that it was working hard to enhance its capabilities to achieve this goal.
This manipulation in presenting the facts sparked a wave of criticism within political and security circles in Tel Aviv, where observers considered it an attempt to evade historical responsibility for the failure to prevent the attack. These revelations put Netanyahu's credibility on the line, especially with increasing public pressure to hold those responsible for the negligence accountable.
The documents indicate that the political level ignored for years warnings that pointed to a radical shift in Hamas's military strategy from defense to offense. The question remains in the Israeli street about the reasons that led Netanyahu to ignore this sensitive intelligence information despite its accuracy and seriousness.
Is Hamas's military wing building up its forces for a large-scale attack on our territories?
شارك برأيك
Leaked documents reveal Netanyahu knew of 'Al-Aqsa Flood' plan since 2018