Gil, former military secretary of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, announced in an interview with Channel 12 television that the Prime Ministry's Private Secretary Tzachi Braverman falsified the phone records of that day.
Stating that he realized that the report collection activities carried out a few weeks after October 7, which coincided with the period when Israel carried out violent attacks in Gaza, were carried out against the regulations, Gil said that he immediately reported the situation to the chief prosecutor.
Stating that a minutes clerk at the Prime Ministry personally told him that the time of Netanyahu's first phone call that day had been changed upon the instruction of Private Secretary Braverman, Gil noted that "an attempt was made to change the call between 06.40 and 06.44 to 06.29, the starting time of October 7."
"Netanyahu sacrificed the lives of the captives for his political future"
Gil, who criticized Netanyahu with harsh words, also emphasized that the Prime Minister deliberately turned down clear opportunities that could bring back Israeli prisoners in Gaza in order not to risk his political career.
Stating that in the cabinet meetings at that time, Netanyahu chose to protect his government instead of approving a prisoner exchange agreement that could bring down his coalition, Gil said, "Did I think it was right to prioritize the return of prisoners at that time? The answer is yes." he said.
Gil said that all security chiefs had warned Netanyahu many times about an impending attack before the events, and that in July 2023, Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar personally conveyed an official "war warning" to the Prime Minister while Netanyahu was in the hospital.
However, Gil stated that Netanyahu did not hold an emergency meeting with Bar regarding the situation after this warning, and added that "Netanyahu did not hold a meeting with senior security officials in the first two hours of the attack on the morning of October 7."
Prime Minister's Office rejects Gil's statements
In its statement, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office argued that Gil's words about Netanyahu did not reflect the truth.
The statement claimed that the responsibility for the intelligence failure that occurred on the day in question could not be blamed on Netanyahu, and claimed that the responsibility lay with the army and security chiefs.
Statements that phone call records were secretly changed and Israeli prisoners were sacrificed for Netanyahu's political success were all rejected.
Opposition calls for investigation against Netanyahu
Following Gil's statements, opposition leaders in Israel called for an urgent investigation into Netanyahu.
Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of the Yashar Party, which appears to be the first party in the election polls in Israel, emphasized in his statement on the social media account of the US-based X company that "Netanyahu prefers his political interests and protocols over the lives of prisoners."
Calling for an immediate criminal investigation into Netanyahu's failure in this period, Eisenkot said, "Nothing will save him from the state investigation commission we will open after the elections." he said.
Avigdor Liberman, leader of the opposition Israel Our Home Party, also reacted harshly and targeted Netanyahu.
In his statement on the social media platform of the US-based company
These reactions from the opposition wing increased the political pressure regarding the October 2023 attacks and the prisoner issue, while also increasing the demands for the matter to be brought to justice through an official state commission.
