Former Prime Minister Yair Lapid said Tuesday that he publicly warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on September 20, 2023 — three weeks before the October 7 massacre — that an attack was imminent, and that Netanyahu dismissed the warning by going on Channel 14 to say there was nothing to worry about. Lapid's statement came in response to a Haaretz report on warnings received by the government before the attack.
Former Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Tuesday responded to a Haaretz report detailing warnings received by the government before the October 7, 2023 massacre, stating that he personally warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a press conference on September 20, 2023 — three weeks before the attack. Lapid said Netanyahu's only response was to appear on Channel 14 and reassure the public that there was nothing to worry about. 'If Netanyahu had fulfilled his role, the massacre would have been prevented,' Lapid said.
Lapid's remarks add to a growing body of testimony about warnings that were ignored or downplayed before October 7. As The Zioneer previously reported, Haaretz revealed that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu of a Hamas attack plan ten days before the massacre, a warning Netanyahu reportedly dismissed. Lapid himself has previously criticized the government's handling of the war, including claims that troops in Lebanon were prevented from firing at militants.
The Haaretz report and Lapid's statement have reignited political debate over responsibility for the October 7 failure. Netanyahu's office has not yet responded to Lapid's latest remarks.
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