In a bombshell testimony before the civilian commission investigating the catastrophic events of October 7, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid did not hold back in his criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Lapid, who served as Israel’s prime minister prior to Netanyahu's return to power and has been a staunch critic of Netanyahu, revealed that he had received direct warnings of a potential Hamas attack more than a month before the massacre. He claimed that Netanyahu and his government were well aware of these threats but chose to gamble with Israel’s security.

Lapid: “The Warnings Were Clear—Netanyahu Knew the Risks”

Lapid's testimony was a scathing indictment of Netanyahu’s leadership and the government's preparedness ahead of the tragic attack. The former prime minister stated unequivocally that Netanyahu and other key cabinet ministers were presented with intelligence that painted a grim picture of Hamas’ intentions. Despite this, Lapid alleged, they opted to downplay the threat.

“I want to contradict the narrative repeatedly pushed by the current government that political leaders were not informed of Hamas’ escalating threat,” Lapid began. “The intelligence was clear, and it was presented to me, to Netanyahu, and to the entire cabinet. We all saw the same reports—Hamas was no longer deterred.”

Before October 7th, Lapid attends a security briefing with Netanyahu. They hear the same warnings. Netanyahu ignores them. On September 20th, Lapid warns the people of Israel.

Just two weeks later, 1200 are dead, over 200 are held hostage. Netanyahu as “Mr. Security”? Nope. pic.twitter.com/xPZ8bMLKkB

— Daniel Livingston (@DanielLiv109) August 24, 2024

Lapid underscored that Hamas’s thirst for violence against Israelis did not begin on October 7, 2023, but had been brewing for years. “Hamas has wanted to kill Jews for decades. The only reason they hadn’t acted sooner was not because they didn’t want to, but because they were deterred by Israel’s strength. But once they saw that deterrence weaken, they struck,” he emphasized.

A Looming Threat Ignored

According to Lapid, Israeli intelligence agencies had repeatedly sounded alarms about Hamas’ intentions, highlighting that the terror group was merely waiting for the right opportunity to strike. This was not a sudden escalation but the result of years of planning, meticulously timed to exploit perceived vulnerabilities within Israeli society.

“There’s a difference between knowing that the security fence would be breached on October 7 and knowing that a threat was looming. Netanyahu and his government knew the deterrence had eroded, and yet they did nothing,” Lapid charged.

Israeli Channel 13:
Lapid said that the defense minister had warned of a confrontation even before October 7, but Netanyahu was not interested. pic.twitter.com/3bewnqPCbQ

— S p r i n t e r (@SprinterFamily) August 29, 2024

Lapid painted a picture of a prime minister who ignored the obvious, blinded by political calculations and unwilling to confront the uncomfortable truth. “He knew that Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad sensed an opportunity in Israel’s internal divisions. They saw the protests against judicial reforms, the rise of far-right figures in Netanyahu’s cabinet, and the turmoil within Israeli society as signs of weakness.”

Netanyahu’s Camp Fires Back: “Lapid Is Lying Again”

Netanyahu’s Likud party was quick to dismiss Lapid’s allegations, accusing the opposition leader of fabricating events. In a fiery rebuttal, Likud labeled Lapid’s claims as baseless, insisting that Netanyahu never received any direct warnings about an impending war in Gaza, neither a month before nor even an hour before the attack.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu did not receive any warning about the war in Gaza,” Likud said in a statement. “Lapid, who opened the gates for workers from Gaza and appeased Hezbollah with free gas, is the last person who should be lecturing about security.”

**Likud refutes Lapid's claims about warnings before Gaza conflict, asserting Netanyahu received no advance alerts.**
Continue reading: https://t.co/POUfCcX6WR

— Echo Of Israel (@IsraelEcho) August 29, 2024

The Likud’s response underscores the deep divisions and political infighting that have marked Israeli politics in recent years. Both sides continue to blame each other for the tragedy of October 7, each unwilling to take responsibility for the failures that led to one of Israel’s darkest days.

The Commission and the Quest for Truth

The civilian commission investigating the October 7 attack was established after growing public pressure and frustration over the government’s refusal to launch a formal state inquiry until the war concluded. Critics argue that this delay was a deliberate attempt to shield the current government from scrutiny, while others maintain that the inquiry should wait until after military operations have ceased to avoid compromising national security.

For many Israelis, Lapid’s testimony was a stark reminder of the dangers of political brinkmanship and the high stakes of leadership. As the inquiry continues, the country remains on edge, grappling with the painful truths that are emerging about its preparedness and response to the deadly assault. The question now is whether those in power will be held accountable—or if the blame game will continue to distract from the urgent need to restore Israel’s security and deterrence capabilities.