Giora Eiland reveals pre-October 7 security warnings

Former Israeli National Security Council head Giora Eiland has revealed that warnings regarding increased security threats were issued prior to the October 7, 2023, attacks. Eiland stated that he personally warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approximately two months before the incident about rising dangers originating from the Gaza Strip.

According to Eiland, then-head of military intelligence Aharon Haliva shifted his assessment during the summer of 2023. While intelligence assessments through late 2022 viewed the probability of war as low, Haliva updated his findings in June and July 2023, noting a high likelihood of a multi-front war. Haliva reportedly consulted with several former military officials to present this new assessment.

Eiland identified two primary drivers for this intelligence shift: the growing military capabilities of Iran and its regional proxies—including Hezbollah, Hamas, and Houthi forces—and internal Israeli domestic instability caused by the judicial reform crisis, which impacted military readiness.