Gaza Herald – Former military secretary Avi Gile has cast serious doubt on Benjamin Netanyahu’s official narrative regarding the security failures preceding the October 7, 2023 attacks. In an interview with Israel Hayom, Gile stated that the document submitted by the Prime Minister does not reflect what actually occurred, describing it as only a partial truth rather than the complete reality.
Gile warned that there is a risk of manipulation regarding minutes of meetings and official calls. He suggested these records might be altered to craft a narrative that serves Netanyahu and reduces his accountability for the intelligence and operational lapses that allowed the assault to proceed.
The Prime Minister submitted a fifty-five-page document to the State Comptroller’s office on February 5. This submission included minutes and documents covering twelve years, ranging from Operation Protective Edge in 2014 up to the morning of the attack. However, Haaretz previously reported that these minutes contained indications of factual manipulation, presenting half-truths while omitting crucial information.
Gile revealed that he began noticing individuals close to Netanyahu collecting documents disproportionately about two weeks after the war started. He contacted the Government Legal Advisor to clarify regulations concerning meeting minutes and transcripts, emphasizing his desire to understand what was permissible without assigning personal blame.
Following this inquiry, the Israeli Police launched an investigation into suspicions related to attempts to alter minutes of Cabinet meetings held during the war, alongside recordings of phone calls made by officials, including Netanyahu, in the initial days of the conflict.
The investigation includes Tzachi Braverman, head of Netanyahu’s office, whom Gile cited in discussions about the behavior of senior officials. Gile described this conduct as a criminal pattern by individuals who believe they can act without consequence, potentially working since the first days to shape a story portraying Netanyahu as the sole official who performed his duties correctly.
Gile insisted that any future investigative committee must obtain full audio recordings rather than relying solely on written minutes or partial transcripts. He also urged the State Comptroller to verify original recordings before accepting documents provided by the Prime Minister’s office.
Regarding Egyptian warnings, Gile noted that an Egyptian intelligence plane landing in Israel for over an hour was significant. He argued such a visit implies a message or document was delivered, which should have been reported, though no one has disclosed details yet.
While these statements do not prove Netanyahu received specific advance warnings about the Hamas attack, they highlight ongoing questions about how intelligence was handled. The Likud party dismissed reports of strategic deception as fabricated political propaganda aimed at toppling the right-wing government.
Amir Ohana accused former generals of conspiring to remove Netanyahu. Meanwhile, Gadi Eisenkot commented that Netanyahu deceived the nation and endangered citizen safety. The debate over political and military responsibility continues without a comprehensive investigative committee being formed.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
