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Gaza war backdrop
Israel’s war in Gaza, launched after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, has killed more than 73,000 people, according to the Gaza health ministry, which the United Nations considers reliable.
“Israel has been waging a campaign in Gaza since October 2023 that has killed more than 73,000 people”
Against that backdrop, Sara Netanyahu, wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accused opposition politician Yair Golan of having prior knowledge of Hamas’s plan, after she questioned his movements in an interview with Israel’s Channel 14.
In the same dispute, Netanyahu said security officials deliberately did not wake him on the morning of October 7, telling viewers, "Why didn’t they wake me? Because they knew that, as prime minister, I would issue an immediate order to put the entire army on high alert."
Golan, a former deputy chief of staff of the Israeli army and leader of the Democrats, threatened to sue Sara Netanyahu and demanded an apology within 24 hours, while also calling her claims a false conspiracy about October 7.
Threats, lawsuits, and outrage
Sara Netanyahu’s Channel 14 remarks sparked anger across Israel’s opposition, with Golan threatening legal action and former chief of staff Gadi Eizenkot criticizing what he called a “crazy treason theory.”
Golan said Sara Netanyahu spread a false conspiracy and threatened to sue her for 2.5 million shekels if she did not apologize within 24 hours and donate compensation to survivors of the Nova festival in the southern West Bank.
In response, Sara Netanyahu mocked the premise of prior knowledge, asking, "Who is the prime minister that he has to know that there is a war about to break out? And why should he be informed?"
The dispute also played out as Netanyahu’s wife questioned how Golan reached southern Israel so quickly during the assault, while Golan’s camp said the remarks crossed a red line bordering on insanity.
Elections and political fallout
The controversy unfolded less than two months before legislative elections scheduled for October 27, as Golan threatened legal action and opposition figures condemned Sara Netanyahu’s statements.
“Democrats party chair Yair Golan gave Sara Netanyahu 24 hours on Tuesday to apologize”
Haaretz reported that Democrats party chair Yair Golan gave Sara Netanyahu 24 hours on Tuesday to apologize for suggesting he had advance knowledge of Hamas’s October 7 attack, threatening to sue for 2.5 million shekels if she did not.
In parallel, i24NEWS said Golan sent a formal notice through attorneys Giora Erdinst, Almog Gil-Or and Jordan Shohat of the EBN law firm, demanding a “public and unequivocal” apology within 24 hours and compensation to be donated to survivors of the Nova music festival.
Netanyahu’s ruling Likud rejected the characterization that Sara Netanyahu promoted a conspiracy, while the Democrats doubled down, leaving the dispute poised to intensify as the Gaza war continues and the October 27 vote approaches.