Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.trtworld.com
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has manipulated his official account of security briefings and warnings received prior to the October 2023 attack, altering key context and omitting vital records to rewrite his pre-war posture, according to an extensive investigation published.
The investigation, conducted by the Yedioth Ahronoth daily and its sister outlet Ynet, compared a 55-page dossier released by Netanyahu in February with original government transcripts, meeting minutes, and official testimonies.
The review uncovered systematic deletions and altered phraseology, particularly concerning urgent warnings delivered by intelligence officials in the months preceding the cross-border assault.
Netanyahu’s February document depicted the prime minister as persistently advocating targeted killings of senior Hamas commanders, portraying military and intelligence chiefs as reluctant figures who favoured maintaining quiet in Gaza.
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However, original records demonstrate that Netanyahu consistently rebuffed proposed military initiatives, insisting that Hamas remained deterred.
In April 2023, then-Shin Bet director Ronen Bar and then-military chief of staff Herzi Halevi formally recommended conducting targeted strikes against Hamas leaders in Gaza.
