Gaza Herald – An investigation published by the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth has revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deleted parts and changed phrasing and contexts in documents concerning the warnings received before the October 7, 2023 attack. This alteration presented a different narrative regarding the content of the warnings and the security deliberations that preceded the assault.
According to the newspaper’s investigation, a comparison between a 55-page document presented by Netanyahu and displayed to the public in February 2026 and the original documents showed deletions and changes in wording and context, particularly in sections related to the October 7 warnings.
Yedioth Ahronoth stated that the document submitted by Netanyahu portrayed a narrative in which he requested the execution of assassinations against Hamas leaders, but security system commanders rejected this and pushed for maintaining deterrence. However, the comparison with the original materials showed a contrary picture.
The investigation indicated that the original documents suggest Netanyahu pushed for maintaining calm before the attack and did not agree to assassination operations. He also declared that Hamas was “calm” and did not respond to the October 7 warnings received from security agencies.
The report added that Netanyahu’s narrative included an assessment that Hamas was strengthening its power at a “moderate pace,” but it did not contain a clear recommendation to act against the movement, even if that would lead to military escalation.
The investigation pointed to a series of warnings provided by then-Shin Bet head Ronen Bar during the months preceding the October 7 attack. According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Netanyahu responded to one warning by stating that a strike in Gaza might help Israel but would not change the fundamental direction of affairs.
On September 10, 2023, Bar escalated his warning, cautioning that the occupation faced a “serious security situation different from what we knew.” Netanyahu then defined his goal as reaching a period of holidays that was as quiet as possible, according to the investigation.
The newspaper concluded that the original documents reveal a more complex picture than the narrative presented by Netanyahu, including repeated warnings about the erosion of deterrence and the possibility of confrontation widening, alongside internal security discussions regarding operations against Hamas leadership.
These results come amid calls within the occupation to publish full minutes and documents of the security deliberations before the October 7 attack. Israeli entities believe that showing selected excerpts does not necessarily reveal the full context of decisions made during that period.
Since the attack, opposition and wide sectors of the Israeli street have demanded the formation of an official inquiry committee into the October 7 failures, which Netanyahu rejects. Netanyahu has led the current government since late 2022, while the occupation prepares for Knesset elections on October 27.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
