Israeli intelligence reveals failure to act on warnings, funding links to Hamas through Qatar

A damning new report from Israel’s Shin Bet intelligence agency has exposed deep failures leading up to Hamas’ deadly October 7 attack. The findings implicate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies, particularly his government’s facilitation of Qatari funding to Hamas, in enabling the assault.

While the report does not mention Netanyahu by name, it highlights key decisions made under his leadership. These include allowing Hamas to receive money from Qatar and opposing targeted killings of top Hamas leaders. Netanyahu’s policies on the Temple Mount and his judicial reforms also contributed to tensions, the agency suggests.

The intelligence failure was stark. SIM cards and border sensors picked up early warning signs of an impending attack but were ignored. The Shin Bet admits it failed to see Hamas evolving into a more sophisticated military force and misjudged its intentions in the days leading up to the assault. A terrorist attack in the West Bank on October 5 further misdirected Israeli intelligence.

The report also criticises Netanyahu’s government for prioritising stability over security threats. There was excessive faith in the IDF’s high-tech border fence, and officials hesitated to take aggressive action against Hamas for fear of sparking a wider war.

Despite ongoing security reforms, the Shin Bet warns that changes at the political level are necessary to prevent future attacks. The revelations are likely to fuel further scrutiny of Netanyahu’s leadership as Israel continues to grapple with the fallout from October 7.