JERUSALEM

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid disclosed that Ronen Bar, head of the Israeli Security Agency Shin Bet, warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in July 2023 about an imminent war, Israeli media reported Friday.

According to the daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Lapid said Thursday that Bar had clearly warned Netanyahu of "a violent, multi-front conflict" before the attack by the resistance group Hamas on Israeli settlements and military bases near Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023.

Lapid noted that he was briefed on the potential for escalation in September, weeks before the Oct. 7 attack, and received detailed warnings about regional tensions and decreased Israeli deterrence.

Lapid also referenced a conversation with Bar on July 24, 2023, the day before the Knesset vote on the reasonableness standard, which was intended to limit the Supreme Court's power.

During this discussion, Bar warned Netanyahu of the looming threat of war, emphasizing the need to show unity to prevent it.

The report mentions that while Bar's warnings did not lessen the responsibility of the Israeli military and Shin Bet, they clearly alerted the government to the impending security crisis.

Despite this, Netanyahu has denied any responsibility for the failure to prevent the Oct. 7 attack, shifting blame to the military and security agencies.

The Prime Minister's office has denied receiving any such warning about an imminent war, stating, “A few days before October 7, the Shin Bet assessed that Gaza's stability is expected to be maintained for a long time."

The Shin Bet has not commented on the response of the Prime Minister's office.

Israel has continued its offensive on the Gaza Strip following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

The onslaught has resulted in over 40,600 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and over 93,800 injuries, according to local health authorities.

An ongoing blockade of Gaza has led to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins.

Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered a halt to military operations in the southern city of Rafah, where over 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge before the area was invaded on May 6.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi in Ankara