Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Thursday evening that the first security assessment with top defense officials began 3.5 hours after the start of the Hamas-led massacre on October 7, 2023, according to a report from Yaron Avraham (N12). The confirmation offers a clear timeline of the initial response by the security establishment on the morning of the deadliest terror attack in Israel's history.
Prime Minister Netanyahu's confirmation adds a specific time frame to the ongoing debate over the chain of command on October 7. According to the N12 report, Netanyahu stated that the first security assessment with the top defense brass took place three and a half hours after the assault began. This timeline aligns with earlier accounts indicating a delayed response. Netanyahu has previously claimed he immediately recognized the attack as a war and alleged that defense officials deliberately chose not to wake him, as The Zioneer has reported. The new statement does not address why the assessment was not convened sooner. The confirmation comes amid ongoing public scrutiny of the government's handling of the October 7 failures.
4 developments
- DevelopingMaj. Peleg Salem, logistics officer, killed fighting Hamas on October 7 — family confirmed
- StrongIDF eliminates Hamas Oct. 7 infiltrator who was rebuilding terror capabilities in Gaza
- DevelopingIDF kills two Hamas operatives who carried out October 7 massacre in precision strikes
- StrongIDF Chief of Staff Tours Gaza, Vows to Continue Pursuit of October 7 Perpetrators
Source and signal
- Open-source intake