Former Defense Minister and Member of Knesset Avigdor Lieberman issued a document about ten years ago, warning of a scenario similar to what happened in Israel on October 7th. In this document, Lieberman cautioned against a sudden attack by Hamas, in which they would seize settlements and capture civilians and soldiers.
According to the report in the newspaper 'Yedioth Ahronoth,' the document was submitted to the Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, and the IDF Chief of Staff, Gadi Eisenkot, who did not believe it was a scenario with a high probability.
Among other things, Lieberman wrote in the document: "Hamas intends to bring the next confrontation into Israeli territory while deploying significant and well-trained forces to Israeli territory, including the occupation of settlements in the periphery and the capture of hostages."
Lieberman warned at that time that "delaying the decision to execute a 'sudden strike' on Hamas would be a serious error, in some ways even more significant than the consequences of the Yom Kippur War on the Israeli home front."
Regarding the fortifications and the defensive barrier that was being built at the time facing Gaza, Lieberman wrote: "The defensive barrier being constructed in front of Gaza, with its various means and capabilities, is indeed an important component of the current security strategy against Gaza, but it cannot be a standalone strategy. Modern history and past precedents (such as the Bar Lev Line, the Mannerheim Line, and the Maginot Line) prove that fortifications and structures do not prevent war and do not guarantee peace and security."
