What Israel knew before October 7th
Three years on, the official story of October 7th is being challenged from inside Israel itself — bad news for Netanyahu's government, and a sign that public opinion is turning.
- Israeli officials had Hamas's attack plan a year ahead, without the exact date, and Egypt and the UAE both passed along warnings.
- Residents and soldiers along the Gaza border reported seeing drills and preparations for months and were told nothing was happening.
- The Hannibal Directive — a long-standing order to kill rather than let anyone be taken hostage — was used that day, including on Israeli civilians fleeing in cars.
- Israel struck Gaza within hours while most border communities were still unprotected, pointing to a plan already in place.
- Israel has funded Hamas for decades, originally to undercut the secular PLO, and kept cash flowing through Qatar and the UAE.
Outlook: Expect more Israeli soldiers and officials to go public, and more pressure on Netanyahu over who knew what and when.