Yoav Gallant Claims Hamas Warned Israel Before October 7

Yoav Gallant, the former Israeli Defense Minister, revealed that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar warned the Shin Bet weeks before the October 7, 2023, massacre that he intended to "shake the prisons." Gallant stated that the Shin Bet and the Military Intelligence Directorate misread the warning, interpreting it as a reference to the kidnapping of Elizabeth Tsurkov rather than a precursor to a large-scale attack.

Gallant also accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of excluding senior security officials from sensitive discussions with U.S. officials concerning hostages and ammunition. He alleged that this exclusion occurred because U.S. trust in the prime minister was low.

Regarding potential warnings from Egypt or the United Arab Emirates, Gallant denied having knowledge of them. He asserted that if the prime minister had received such warnings, it would constitute a fundamental security failure rather than a political asset.