Updated

Netanyahu announced he has filed defamation lawsuits against media outlets over reports alleging he received advance warnings — including from Egypt and the UAE — of a potential Hamas attack ahead of October 7, 2023. Likud called the reports a "total invention" intended to harm the prime minister and national security, while Netanyahu labeled the claims "false slanders" timed to damage him ahead of the election. The legal action underscores the ongoing political battle over accountability for the October 7 attacks as Israel heads toward its election, with critics suggesting the timing of the lawsuits is politically motivated.