Lapid Testifies on Hamas Warnings to Netanyahu

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has publicly countered claims by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he received no warnings regarding Hamas's intentions prior to the October 7 attack. During his testimony to a civilian inquiry, Lapid stated that both he and Netanyahu were informed of escalating threats from Hamas and other militant groups in various security briefings throughout 2023. He described a specific briefing on August 21, where military officials warned of internal divisions in Israel and a perceived weakness that could embolden adversaries. Lapid asserted that the prime minister appeared indifferent to these warnings, despite the intelligence indicating a significant risk. He also highlighted that the president had received updates about the deteriorating security situation and communicated these to Netanyahu. The inquiry continues to investigate the government's failure to act on these warnings, which resulted in the deadly Hamas incursion.