Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conduct in the immediate aftermath of the October 7 massacre, accusing him of projecting what Gallant described as an “atmosphere of defeatism.” Gallant made the remarks during an interview with Channel 12.

Gallant recalled that he did not meet Netanyahu until roughly three and a half hours after the Hamas attack began and claimed he was deeply troubled by the atmosphere surrounding the prime minister during the initial days of the crisis.

He also addressed the recent controversy surrounding claims that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed had warned Netanyahu before October 7 about an impending major Hamas operation.

Gallant said he personally had no knowledge of such a warning. However, he claimed it would theoretically be possible for a prime minister to conceal or remove documentation of a conversation, while stopping short of asserting that Netanyahu had done so.

Netanyahu has strongly denied receiving such a warning and has rejected the underlying account of a pre-October 7 conversation with the UAE leader.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)