Full Breakdown
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s October 7 Call Timeline and Alleged Record Alteration
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Core Event: Alleged Change to the 6:40 a.m. Call Record
Avi Gil, former military secretary to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told N12 News and Israel Hayom that the prime minister’s chief of staff, Tzachi Braverman, instructed a stenographer to modify the timestamp of the 6:40 a.m. phone call on October 7, 2023, changing it to 6:29 a.m. Gil says the alteration was intended to shape the narrative of the early hours of the Hamas attack. He added that, aside from this change, he is unaware of any other transcript edits.
Background & Context: Intelligence Alerts and the October 7 Attack
According to Gil, an intelligence assistant received an alert at 3:55 a.m. describing “routine” activity near the Gaza border and did not wake either the prime minister or Gil, judging the situation non-urgent. At 6:12 a.m., Gil was awakened by a secure call from former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, who warned of “South.” By 6:29 a.m., Gil called Netanyahu on a non-secure line to report a large-scale Hamas surprise attack, and at 6:40 a.m. he called again to declare “We are at war.”
Official Statements & Responses: Gil’s Account and Calls for Inquiry
Gil said he digitized all his notebooks and stored them on a classified Military Intelligence Directorate computer before leaving his post, intending to provide them to a future state commission of inquiry. He urged investigators to obtain the original audio recordings rather than rely solely on transcripts. Gil rejected claims of betrayal by Israeli officials, describing them as “lies” that damage societal resilience, and emphasized that the security system “failed utterly.” He placed responsibility for the October 7 failures on Netanyahu, stating that leadership cannot be separated from responsibility. Gil expressed doubt that a state commission of inquiry will ever be formed, noting that three years have passed since the attack.
Data & Statistics: Timeline of Key Moments on October 7
- 3:55 a.m. – Intelligence assistant receives routine-alert about Gaza-border activity.
- 6:12 a.m. – Gil receives a secure call from Ronen Bar’s office, briefed on “South.”
- 6:17 a.m. – Gil returns the call, receives details on SIM-card activations and underground movement of Hamas operatives.
- 6:29 a.m. – Gil contacts Netanyahu, reports extensive Hamas fire.
- 6:40 a.m. – Gil contacts Netanyahu again, declares “We are at war.”
What’s Next: Calls for Original Recordings and Potential Inquiry
Gil recommended that any future commission of inquiry and the State Comptroller request the original audio files of the October 7 calls, arguing that transcripts alone may be unreliable. He indicated that, given the lack of an established commission to date, he felt compelled to speak publicly to preserve what he describes as “the country’s truth.”