Here’s a bombshell that could reshape how we view Israel’s leadership during one of its darkest hours: A former top aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims the Israeli leader tasked him with crafting a strategy to dodge accountability for the devastating October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. But here’s where it gets controversial—while Netanyahu’s critics have long accused him of evading blame for the deadliest assault in Israel’s history, this is the first time someone from his inner circle has gone on the record with such damning details. And this is the part most people miss: the timing and urgency of Netanyahu’s alleged request, which reportedly came just hours after the attack, as Israel reeled from the shock of 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken by Hamas militants.
In a jaw-dropping interview with Israel’s Kan news channel, former Netanyahu spokesperson Eli Feldstein—who himself faces trial for allegedly leaking classified information—revealed that his first task post-attack was to suppress calls for accountability. ‘He asked me, “What are they saying in the news? Are they still talking about responsibility?”’ Feldstein recounted. ‘He wanted me to come up with something—anything—to deflect the media’s focus on whether he had taken responsibility.’ Feldstein added that Netanyahu appeared ‘panicked’ during the exchange, and later, members of the prime minister’s inner circle instructed him to scrub the word ‘responsibility’ from all official statements.
This revelation sheds new light on Netanyahu’s handling of the crisis, especially as he has consistently blocked calls for an independent state inquiry into the security failures that led to the attack. Critics argue this pattern of avoidance underscores a deeper reluctance to confront systemic issues within Israel’s security apparatus. Meanwhile, the war in Gaza that followed the attack has resulted in nearly 71,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which notes that roughly half of the victims were women and children.
Netanyahu’s office has dismissed Feldstein’s claims as ‘mendacious and recycled allegations’ from a man with ‘clear personal interests,’ but the timing of these accusations is hard to ignore. Feldstein’s statements come on the heels of his indictment for allegedly leaking classified military information to a German tabloid last August, an act he reportedly undertook to bolster Netanyahu’s public image after the killing of six hostages in Gaza. Feldstein is also entangled in the ‘Qatargate’ scandal, accused of accepting money from Qatar while working for the prime minister—a charge that raises questions about the integrity of Netanyahu’s inner circle.
Here’s the real question: If Feldstein’s account is true, does it reveal a leader more concerned with self-preservation than national accountability? Or is this a case of a disgruntled former aide settling scores? One thing’s for sure: this story isn’t going away anytime soon. What do you think? Is Netanyahu being unfairly targeted, or is there a deeper issue at play here? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.
