Following the October 7 Hamas-led attacks, former Israeli Brigadier General Ofer Winter reportedly held a private meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advise against an immediate ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. According to the report, Winter expressed significant reservations regarding the military strategy being considered at the time.

Winter allegedly warned the Prime Minister that a full-scale ground invasion would result in approximately 15,000 Israeli soldier fatalities. Furthermore, he reportedly cautioned that such an operation would increase the likelihood of thousands of additional Israeli soldiers being kidnapped by militant groups. The meeting, which was described as secret, highlights internal military and political debate regarding the risks associated with the subsequent war effort.

While the report details these specific warnings, it does not provide the Prime Minister’s direct response to Winter’s assessment, nor does it detail the broader context of the military planning sessions occurring at that time. The report serves to underscore the high-stakes deliberations within Israeli leadership in the immediate aftermath of the October 7 massacre, as officials weighed the necessity of dismantling Hamas against the potential for catastrophic loss of life among Israeli forces.