The Prime Minister’s Office released Benjamin Netanyahu’s schedule from the morning of October 7, 2023, on Thursday evening, following what the office described as “misleading reports” published recently. According to the timeline, Netanyahu was first briefed on the Hamas attack at 6:29 a.m. by his military secretary, received another update at 6:44 a.m., and later traveled to the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, where he held a security assessment with senior defense officials.
The Full Timeline, According to the PM Office:
6:29 a.m. – The military secretary briefs the prime minister for the first time that there is an attack from the Gaza Strip.
6:44 a.m. – Second briefing call with the military secretary. The prime minister asks why nothing came up in the intelligence briefings he received, requests a check on whether a broad reserve call-up is needed, and asks whether it’s possible to assassinate Hamas leadership.
7:30 a.m. – The prime minister departs for the Kirya after the prime ministerial convoy is prepared.
During the drive – The prime minister speaks with the defense minister, who updates him that there is no clear picture of the situation. The prime minister directs him to convene a security assessment in the Pit (underground command center) under his leadership.
Around 8:00 a.m. – The prime minister arrives at the Kirya (according to Shin Bet records, 8:22 a.m.).
8:40 a.m. – The defense minister convenes the IDF chief of staff and Shin Bet director to formulate a situation assessment ahead of the discussion with the prime minister.
8:30-9:30 a.m. – The prime minister requests and receives intelligence updates and ongoing field updates from the military secretary’s team.
9:47 a.m. – The prime minister’s chief of staff receives, for the first time, the situation assessment document that the Shin Bet director held at 5:15 a.m.
9:55 a.m. – The prime minister holds a security assessment in the Pit with the defense minister, IDF chief of staff, Mossad director, Shin Bet director, National Security Council head, and Military Intelligence chief. The prime minister directs a hermetic sealing of the border to prevent hostages from being transferred to Gaza and further terrorist infiltration, rejects the IDF’s recommendation for a partial reserve call-up and directs a full mobilization, and orders a war directive and preparation for the northern front.
At the end of the meeting, the prime minister holds a limited security consultation with the defense minister and IDF chief of staff.