Israeli Politics29 September, 20262 min read
Benjamin Netanyahu Sues Haaretz, Yedioth Ahronoth, Walla Over October 7 Warnings Claims
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Netanyahu filed defamation suits against Israeli media claiming he was warned before October 7. The suits target outlets including Haaretz, Yedioth Ahronoth, Ynet, and Channel 12.
6 outlets told this the same way.
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Netanyahu sues over warnings
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu filed defamation lawsuits against Israeli media outlets and journalists over reports that he received advance security warnings before the October 7, 2023 attack, and he denied the claims in a statement. Netanyahu said, "It is not by chance that these lies are being published now, ahead of the upcoming elections in October," as he targeted outlets including Haaretz and Yedioth Ahronoth and the news site Walla, according to Channel 12.
Israeli military, intelligence, and political officials described the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel as an unprecedented security and military failure in its history, while Netanyahu refused to take any responsibility and instead blamed the Israeli army. Netanyahu has led the current government since late 2022, and the sources say he has been required since 2024 to appear before the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes in Gaza.
Court filings and amounts
Netanyahu filed a series of defamation complaints on Tuesday before the Jerusalem District Court targeting ten media outlets and journalists, and the sources say he sought a total of 2.6 million shekels. Israeli outlet i24NEWS reported that Netanyahu said, "The Emirates denied it, the Egyptians denied it: it is an absolute lie," as he accused political opponents and hostile foreign actors of spreading the information to topple his government.
The Times of Israel said Likud stated Netanyahu sued for NIS 2.6 million, and it named Haaretz, Yedioth Ahronoth, Channel 12, and reporters Shlomi Eldar, Uri Misgav, Nadav Eyal, Barak Ravid, and Attila Somfalvi. The sources say the court will have to review contested publications and the elements presented by each party, as the debate in Israel centers on what the Prime Minister knew before the Hamas attack.
UAE call, Egyptian warning
Haaretz had revealed on September 8 that Netanyahu received a warning of a possible attack by Hamas but did not inform security establishment leaders of the details of that conversation, and the paper also reported that the UAE president conveyed a "clear warning" about Yahya Sinwar planning a major move against Israel. Netanyahu’s office described what Haaretz published as "pure falsehoods," stating that the prime minister did not speak with the UAE president during that period and did not receive any warning.
The UAE Foreign Ministry indicated it would not comment on "media narratives or speculation about conversations between leaders," while it specified that Israeli and Emirati officials maintained direct channels of communication and that relevant intelligence was transmitted when necessary. The sources also say Netanyahu’s suits bring before the courts a question at the heart of the debate in Israel: what did the Prime Minister know before the Hamas attack, as the legal process could require review of the contested reports and the elements presented by each party.