Israel is debating a claim that Ronen Bar, then director of the Shin Bet, proposed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu order a targeted operation against Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ leader in Gaza, shortly before Oct. 7, 2023.
A security source claimed that Bar met with Netanyahu on Oct. 1, 2023, and described Hamas as preparing for “something violent,” using the word “earthquake.”
According to the same source, Bar also proposed assassinating other senior Hamas figures alongside Sinwar. The intelligence report allegedly stated that these figures should be assassinated before Hamas took action, and that the report was presented to Netanyahu.
The security source claimed that Netanyahu rejected the proposal, asserting that recent reports about the matter were accurate.
Claim that UAE leader issued a warning
Israel also debated claims that United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu about 10 days before the Oct. 7 attack.
According to this claim, Bin Zayed held a 45-minute phone call with Netanyahu at the end of September 2023 and said that Sinwar was planning a large-scale operation from the Gaza Strip against Israel.
The account presenting the claim alleged that Netanyahu did not relay the information to security officials and took no preventive measures. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office denied the claim, saying that Netanyahu had not spoken with Bin Zayed.
Israeli politicians respond
The claims also sparked political debate in Israel. Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar Party, Netanyahu’s biggest rival in elections and a party leading in the polls; Democratic Party leader Yair Golan; and former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett issued statements criticizing the prime minister.
Netanyahu defended himself over the Aqsa Flood of Oct. 7, 2023, saying, “They did not wake me up.” Netanyahu has also repeatedly targeted former Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar.
