New book alleges Netanyahu ignored Hamas attack warning days before October 7
A new book claims Netanyahu was warned of a Hamas attack days before October 7 and did nothing. He denies it.
A forthcoming book has leveled a serious allegation against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, claiming he received a warning about a potential Hamas attack just days before the October 7 assault but took no action. The claim has intensified scrutiny over how Netanyahu handled intelligence in the lead-up to the deadliest day in Israel's recent history.
The allegation, reported in the book, has added fresh political pressure on the Prime Minister, who has faced sustained criticism over the security and intelligence failures that allowed the Hamas incursion to unfold. Questions have repeatedly centered on whether clear warnings were missed or dismissed at the highest levels of government.
Netanyahu has categorically rejected the claim, calling it an "absolute lie." He has also denied having spoken to the Emirati leader during the relevant period, a detail that appears in the book's account. The denial sets up a direct clash between the Prime Minister's office and the book's authors over the sequence of events before the attack.
This is not the first time Netanyahu's handling of pre-war intelligence has come under question. The October 7 assault, which saw Hamas fighters breach the Gaza border and attack Israeli communities, has led to widespread domestic anger and demands for an official inquiry into the failures that preceded it.
The new book adds another layer to that ongoing debate, though its claims remain contested. With Netanyahu denying the account, the dispute is likely to fuel further political turmoil in Israel, where the government's response to the attack and its aftermath continues to be a deeply divisive issue.