Likud launched a sharp attack Wednesday against Channel 12, accusing the broadcaster of airing “false political propaganda against Prime Minister Netanyahu and Likud” throughout the memorial day marking three years since the October 7 massacre—all aimed at toppling the right-wing government and paving the way for one that would establish a ‘Palestinian’ state.
The party insists that contrary to claims leveled at the prime minister, Netanyahu received no warning of the Hamas attack from Gaza. Likud points to testimony from President Trump, President Biden’s adviser Brett McGurk, and the governments of the UAE and Egypt, which the party says confirm no such warning was passed to Netanyahu.
1+Likud further claims that official documents and protocols submitted to the State Comptroller show security chiefs repeatedly assessed that Hamas was deterred and seeking an arrangement, and even recommended humanitarian easements to “preserve the calm.”
The party cites an intelligence report from May 31 that stated: “Hamas is looking for new arenas to keep the Gaza Strip stable.” Another intelligence report from July 23 included no scenario of escalation from Gaza, noting that “at this stage, the clear and immediate danger in our assessment of escalation is with emphasis on the Lebanese arena.”
Even days before the massacre, Likud claims, the assessment was that Hamas wanted quiet. On October 1, seven days before the massacre, Research Division Head Amit Saar said: “Sinwar desires to return to calm.” On October 3, four days before the massacre, a Shin Bet document to the prime minister stated that “security calm in exchange for easements embodies potential for preserving stability in the Strip, possibly even long-term.”
1+Likud emphasizes that Netanyahu was first briefed on the Hamas attack at 6:29 a.m. on October 7. The party claims that during the night, officials saw real-time signs indicating the attack but did not update the police, standby squads, kibbutzim, soldiers on the fence, partygoers at the Nova festival, or the prime minister.
“If Prime Minister Netanyahu had been updated in real time—everything would have looked different,” Likud said. The party adds that after the war began, it was Netanyahu who decided on a ground maneuver in Gaza and stood firm against pressure to settle for airstrikes. Likud credits Netanyahu with military moves that led, in their telling, to achievements in the campaign—including operations in Gaza and Rafah, the release of hostages, the pager operation, the elimination of Nasrallah, Sinwar and Deif, the capture of Mount Hermon, and the campaign against Iran.
In closing, Likud attacks Channel 12 and claims this amounts to “false consciousness engineering”—a campaign the party says is unfolding in the heat of the election season and designed to replace Netanyahu’s right-wing government.