Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant alleged in a Channel 12 interview Wednesday evening that Prime Minister Netanyahu arrived at the situation room only at 10 a.m. on October 7, 2023, and projected 'concerning defeatism,' according to The Zioneer.
Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who held the defense portfolio on October 7, 2023, gave an interview to Channel 12 on Wednesday evening in which he offered a stark account of Prime Minister Netanyahu's conduct during the morning of the Hamas invasion. According to The Zioneer, Gallant stated that Netanyahu did not arrive at the situation room until 10 a.m. – several hours after the assault began – and that the prime minister's demeanor at the time conveyed 'concerning defeatism' (תבוסתנות מדאיגה).
Gallant's remarks add to the ongoing public and political debate over leadership and decision-making during the deadliest terror attack in Israel's history. As The Zioneer previously reported, Netanyahu has offered competing accounts of his actions that morning, including claims that defense officials deliberately failed to wake him (Sep. 1, 2026). The prime minister has also faced criticism from other former security chiefs, including former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, over his handling of security threats both during and after October 7. Background reports have noted a deepening rift between Netanyahu and senior defense figures regarding responsibility for the failures. The full details of Gallant's interview were reported by Channel 12.
- DevelopingNetanyahu claims defense officials 'deliberately' failed to wake him on Oct. 7 morning
- StrongNetanyahu on Oct 7 debacle: Wait until protocols are revealed, then you'll know the truth
- StrongLapid: If Netanyahu had done his job, Oct. 7 massacre would have been prevented
- DevelopingNetanyahu: 'I immediately understood it was a war' — his account of October 7 morning
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