October 7: Did Netanyahu Know—and, If So, Why Did He Not Act?

This analysis by Dr. Tughral Yamin, Senior IPS Associate, examines the question of whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received prior warning of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and, if so, how the information was handled. The policy insight explores the alleged UAE warning, existing intelligence about Hamas preparations, and the role of strategic complacency and flawed assumptions in the failure to prevent the attack. It also distinguishes political negligence from claims of deliberate conspiracy. Importantly, the commentary calls for an independent investigation to establish the facts and accountability, arguing that intelligence superiority cannot compensate for failures of judgment at the highest levels of decision-making.