Yoav Gallant, who was recently dismissed as Israel’s defense minister, has publicly addressed the intelligence failures surrounding the October 7 Hamas-led attack. In recent statements, Gallant revealed that the Shin Bet, Israel's internal security agency, received a warning involving Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar that was described as a potential 'quake.' According to Gallant, the agency analyzed this information and concluded it pertained to ongoing discussions regarding an Israeli hostage held in Iraq, rather than a precursor to a large-scale military operation.

Gallant’s account highlights a significant breakdown in intelligence assessment. He further asserted that he was never personally informed of other warnings reportedly issued by the United Arab Emirates or Egypt during that same period. These claims suggest that while intelligence may have been collected, the interpretation and dissemination of that data were flawed, leading to a failure to anticipate the scale of the October 7 events. The Shin Bet has faced intense scrutiny since the attacks, with various officials and political figures debating the extent of the agency's prior knowledge and the subsequent failure to prevent the breach. Gallant’s testimony adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that while specific signals were detected, they were categorized incorrectly by those responsible for national security.