Netanyahu's shocking denial: Did he really refuse to eliminate Hamas leader Sinwar before October 7?

The report, published on Sunday by Channel 12 journalist Omri Maniv, sparked controversy by suggesting that Netanyahu turned down the Shin Bet's recommendation to target Sinwar, who was central to planning Hamas's terrorist activities.

In response to the report, Netanyahu’s office issued a sharp rebuttal, calling it “a total lie.” According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu had actually supported taking action against Hamas leadership, including Sinwar, but had been met with a recommendation from the Shin Bet's chief, Ronan Bar, to avoid escalation.

The original report, aired by Maniv in an interview with radio hosts Erel Segal and Eyal Berkovic, detailed Hamas's strategy leading up to the deadly attack. Maniv stated that Muhammad Deif, the commander of Hamas' military wing, was responsible for ordering the attack on Israeli towns, marking the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. He explained that Hamas had worked to maintain secrecy around the attack, even keeping key members of its elite Nukhba unit in the dark until just before the assault. Maniv emphasized that Hamas recognized the importance of surprise for the operation's success.

Maniv’s report also included details of a meeting on October 1 between Netanyahu and security officials, including the Shin Bet, following Hamas’s claim of responsibility for an attack in Yehudah and Shomron. During this meeting, the Shin Bet allegedly presented Netanyahu with two options: either eliminate Hamas leaders, with a focus on Sinwar, or target the planners of attacks in Gaza and those maintaining connections in Judea and Samaria. Maniv's account suggested that Netanyahu did not act on the first option.

However, Netanyahu’s office contradicted this claim, asserting that the Prime Minister had been in favor of thwarting Hamas leadership in Gaza, particularly in the case of escalating tensions. The Prime Minister’s Office further clarified that during an intelligence assessment on October 3, Shin Bet’s Bar had emphasized that Hamas was looking to avoid a direct confrontation with Israel and that maintaining stability in Gaza was possible if Israel offered economic incentives.

The back-and-forth over this issue highlights the ongoing tensions and disagreements regarding Israel’s security strategy in the months leading up to the October 7 attacks.