A former top aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made a stunning public accusation, claiming that in the immediate aftermath of the devastating October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, Netanyahu's primary concern was evading responsibility for the catastrophic security failure.
Explosive Allegations from a Former Insider
In a detailed interview with Israel's Kan news channel on Monday night, former Netanyahu spokesperson Eli Feldstein stated that his "first task" from the prime minister after the attack was to stifle growing calls for accountability. Feldstein, who is currently facing trial for allegedly leaking classified information to the press, described a panicked Netanyahu asking him to monitor media narratives.
"He asked me, 'What are they talking about in the news? Are they still talking about responsibility?'" Feldstein recounted. According to him, Netanyahu wanted him to "think of something that could be said that would offset the media storm" surrounding the question of the prime minister's responsibility. Feldstein added that he was later instructed by people in Netanyahu's inner circle to completely omit the word "responsibility" from all official statements.
The Context of War and Scandal
These allegations shed new light on Netanyahu's conduct during a pivotal moment. The October 7, 2023 attack saw Hamas-led militants kill approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel and take 251 hostages to Gaza. Israel's subsequent military response in Gaza has been devastating, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting nearly 71,000 Palestinian deaths. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but states that around half of those killed were women and children.
Netanyahu's office swiftly dismissed Feldstein's interview, calling it a "long series of mendacious and recycled allegations" made by a man with "clear personal interests" who is trying to deflect blame onto others. The prime minister has consistently resisted calls for an independent state inquiry into the security lapses of October 7.
Aide's Legal Troubles and Broader Scandals
Feldstein's credibility is complicated by his own legal issues. He is under indictment for allegedly leaking classified military information to a German tabloid. The purported goal of that leak was to improve Netanyahu's public image following the killing of six hostages in Gaza in August of last year.
Furthermore, Feldstein is a suspect in the "Qatargate" scandal. In this affair, he is one of two close Netanyahu aides accused of accepting money from Qatar while simultaneously working for the prime minister. These factors are certain to be used by Netanyahu's defenders to challenge Feldstein's motives and the timing of his revelations.
The claims add fuel to long-standing criticism from Netanyahu's political opponents, who have repeatedly accused him of refusing to accept blame for the deadliest attack in Israel's history. As the war in Gaza approaches the two-year mark, these internal political battles over accountability continue to rage alongside the conflict itself.
