Inside the War Room: Yoav Gallant’s Untold Story of October 7 — Join Us in Honoring Israel’s Former Defense Minister at the Magbit Gala!
Israel’s former Defense Minister will be honored on our annual Magbit Gala on May 8, 2025
Magbit Foundation Gala 2025 Honoring General Yoav Gallant
Thursday, May 8th, 2025 | 5:00 PM | The Beverly Hilton Hotel – Main Ballroom
We at the Magbit Foundation are proud to honor General Yoav Gallant, former Defense Minister of Israel, at our Annual Gala on May 8th, 2025.
This follows his extraordinary, long-form conversation on the Call Me Back podcast, where he offered a gripping and detailed account of the events surrounding October 7, 2023. If you want to truly understand what happened—day by day, decision by decision—this is the conversation to listen to. And now, you can meet the man who lived it firsthand.
🎖 A Night of Tribute, Unity, and Action
Come hear directly from the man who led Israel through one of its darkest hours. Join a vibrant and united Iranian Jewish community in supporting our brothers and sisters in Israel, while enjoying an unforgettable evening of kosher cuisine, live entertainment, and beautiful community spirit. Here is a summary of the podcast for your convenience.
Yoav Gallant's War Reflections: Inside Israel's Strategy After October 7
1. Why Gallant Is Speaking Out Now
Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant waited 16 months after the October 7, 2023, Hamas invasion to speak publicly about Israel's most devastating war in decades. Having stepped down from his post three months earlier, Gallant explained that he needed time for the full weight of the war to "sink in." He now seeks to honor the fallen, provide transparency to the Israeli public, and offer bereaved families insight into the decisions made during the war. Gallant emphasized that speaking now is not about political positioning or reacting to current events—it is about telling history, giving Israelis and the world a comprehensive view of the events that reshaped the Middle East.
2. A Podcast, Not a Press Conference
Gallant chose Dan Senor's "Call Me Back" podcast as his platform for one reason: depth. With seven fronts active during the war and countless pivotal decisions, Gallant believed that only long-form conversation could capture the complexity and gravity of Israel's experience. The podcast allowed Gallant to narrate not only the strategic arc of the war but also its emotional and moral dimensions. He emphasized that television appearances often reduce such events to headlines, while the podcast could serve as an extended oral history—his way of writing a book in real time.
3. The Man Behind the Decisions
Born in 1958 to Holocaust survivors, Gallant’s personal story is rooted in national trauma and redemption. His mother arrived in Israel aboard the Exodus ship, and his father was a teenage partisan fighter who later fought in Israel’s War of Independence. Gallant was raised in Jaffa, in an apartment shared with two Arab Muslim brothers—an unusual arrangement reflecting the complexities and tensions of the young state. The families shared a kitchen and bathroom. Gallant recalled one of the Arab brothers sitting him on his lap and feeding him sweets.
This experience of coexistence, against the backdrop of deep national wounds, shaped Gallant’s understanding of both the potential and challenges of Israeli-Arab relations. He grew up with the stories of Zionist leaders and was inspired by military commanders like Dayan and Sharon. During the 1967 Six-Day War, Gallant and his mother tracked his father’s progress through newspaper maps and radio reports. He recalls his mother crying tears of joy when the Old City of Jerusalem was liberated. These experiences instilled in him a strong sense of national duty.
After serving five years in Shayetet 13, Israel's elite naval commandos, Gallant left the IDF and sought adventure abroad. He worked as a fisherman in Alaska, operating on salmon, halibut, and king crab boats. He also worked as a lumberjack and reforestation laborer. These rugged experiences gave him perspective and resilience. Eventually, a call from his former commander persuaded him to return to military service.
4. October 7: The Attack Unfolds
On the morning of October 7, Gallant was preparing for a cycling trip near his home when one of his daughters called to report sirens in Tel Aviv. He contacted IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, who confirmed the sirens were from rocket fire originating in Gaza—and that this was not a standard barrage. Within an hour, Gallant was at the IDF’s Kirya headquarters in Tel Aviv.
He immediately declared a state of war—a significant move authorizing full mobilization. He ordered the deployment of all regular and reserve forces and instructed that troops be sent not only south but also north, anticipating possible Hezbollah involvement. At this point, he feared that Hamas could not have launched such a massive attack without coordination from Hezbollah. His instinct was later supported by Hamas documents recovered in December, which indicated that Hamas had believed such coordination was in place.
5. Realizing the Magnitude
Visiting the South on October 8, Gallant toured Be’eri, Ofakim, and Nir Oz. The devastation stunned him. In Ofakim alone, 50 people had been murdered. In Nir Oz, 25% of the kibbutz population had been killed or abducted. The scope of the attack was far greater than previous operations. Hamas had deployed a full-fledged military-style assault involving drones, boats, motorcycles, paragliders, and battalions equipped with heavy weaponry, communications officers, medical teams, and field command.
Many Israeli officers and commanders had been killed or injured in the first few hours. Some generals took up arms and fought directly alongside soldiers with rifles and even knives to block further advances. The bravery of female tank commanders and young fighters, Gallant said, was instrumental in halting Hamas before they reached cities like Ashkelon. Gallant, a veteran of multiple wars, declared that he had never seen anything like it.
6. The Hostage Crisis
Soon after the invasion, it became clear that Hamas had taken over 250 hostages—including children, the elderly, and entire families. Gallant understood immediately that this created a new strategic and moral dilemma for Israel. In contrast to previous hostage situations, the scale here was unprecedented. The capture of Gilad Shalit in 2006, which paralyzed the nation for five years, involved one soldier. Now, hundreds of Israelis were in Hamas tunnels and safe houses.
Gallant’s response was to enforce a policy of silence: no negotiations or signaling weakness. His first order to the IDF was that no one was to message Hamas. “They will come to us,” he insisted. “If you show weakness, you give them leverage. We must take their tunnels, their equipment—and their lives. Only then will they talk.”
7. The Night of October 7: Engaging the U.S.
At 2:00 AM on October 8, Gallant contacted U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and requested the return of 50,000 155mm artillery shells that had previously been diverted from Israel to Ukraine. Austin asked why Gallant needed so many shells just to fight Hamas. Gallant responded that he expected Hezbollah would join the war imminently. The request was granted. Gallant later discovered that 200,000 shells had been taken without replenishment since 2006. He immediately restarted production domestically through Elbit Systems.
8. Confronting the Nation’s Grief
On January 10, 2024, Gallant visited Kibbutz Nir Oz and met Ruma Kedem, a woman who had lost six family members. She demanded answers and accused the government of abandonment. Gallant did not interrupt or attempt to justify himself. “I couldn’t answer her, and I didn’t want to,” he said. “Everything she said was right.” That moment, he said, became a symbol of the country’s anguish—and of the government’s responsibility. Gallant called for a full inquiry into how Hamas had amassed such power, including years of Israeli-approved Qatari funding that had flowed into Gaza.
9. October 11: The Missed Opportunity
On October 10, intelligence revealed that 14 top Hezbollah and Iranian commanders—including Nasrallah—were meeting at a known location in Lebanon. Gallant saw this as a rare opportunity to change the trajectory of the war. The IDF prepared a three-phase operation: eliminate Hezbollah’s leadership, destroy 90-95% of its 200,000 missiles (many still in storage), and kill 15,000 fighters through explosive-rigged communication devices.
Gallant received approval from the IDF Chief of Staff and the Air Force. Jets were in the air, awaiting a green light. But Prime Minister Netanyahu, along with Gantz and Eisenkot, rejected the plan, fearing U.S. opposition and escalation. Gallant argues that this was a historic mistake. “If we had acted, we could have halved the war’s length, avoided evacuations in the North, and refocused forces on Gaza.”
10. Turning the Tide: Summer 2024 Operations
Despite the missed October opportunity, Gallant never gave up on his strategy. On July 27, 2024, a Hezbollah rocket attack killed 12 Druze children in Majdal Shams. This tragedy galvanized political and military will. Gallant ordered the killing of Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas’s Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
Then came the major blow: In September, Israel targeted a meeting of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force commanders, killing them all. On September 23, four waves of Israeli airstrikes destroyed 70–80% of Hezbollah’s missiles. On September 27, Israel dropped 84 tons of bombs on Nasrallah’s bunker, killing him. Gallant called it personal closure: the man responsible for the 1997 ambush that killed 12 of Gallant’s former commandos was finally dead.
11. The Iranian Response and Counterstrike
In retaliation, Iran fired 200 ballistic missiles at Israel. Although the damage was significant, no lives were lost. Gallant responded with surgical strikes that destroyed Iranian S-300 air defenses and missile factories. Israel’s campaign reduced Iran’s missile production from two per day to one per week. The operation demonstrated Israel’s capability to strike deep into enemy territory and reshaped deterrence across the region.
12. Hostage Strategy and Deal Timing
Gallant believed in using strength—not concessions—to recover hostages. In April 2024, a potential deal to recover 33 hostages collapsed after a leak suggested Israel was willing to settle for just 18. Gallant opposed the compromise and insisted all women and children be returned. The leak—allegedly from far-right ministers—derailed negotiations.
Eventually, after Israel's victories in the north, the January 2025 deal was signed. Gallant lamented that it was nearly identical to the July 2024 proposal—but with worse terms and fewer lives saved. His conclusion: “If we had acted earlier, we could have brought them home sooner.”
13. Strategic Lessons and Military Doctrine
Gallant's primary doctrine is clear: Hit the stronger enemy first. He believes that if Israel had neutralized Hezbollah early, the war in Gaza would have concluded faster, with fewer casualties and greater regional stability. He also warned against relying solely on international partners. “We must defend ourselves by ourselves,” he said, referencing moments when U.S. support was conditional.
He also emphasized timing. Israel’s covert operations, including “beeper” and “walkie-talkie” explosives designed to kill 15,000 Hezbollah fighters, were partially compromised due to delayed execution. Only 2,000 fighters were harmed. “It was a big miss,” Gallant admitted. Had the full campaign been launched on October 11, the effect would have been decisive.
14. A Legacy of Responsibility
In November 2024, Gallant was dismissed from his role—coinciding with the U.S. presidential election. Despite his departure, Gallant's doctrine and operational decisions reshaped Israel’s strategic posture. He will be remembered for demanding accountability, advocating bold action, and delivering the most decisive strikes of the war.
His final message is rooted in the legacy of his parents, survivors of Europe’s darkest era: “Never Again is not a slogan—it’s a manual.”
💙 Magbit’s Mission Has Never Been More Urgent
Since 1990, Magbit has supported students through our innovative Interest-Free Loan Program, helping thousands complete their university education. In recent years, our mission has expanded to include major humanitarian aid through the Magbit Emergency Fund.
Since October 7, we have raised over $3 million towards our $5 million goal, providing direct support to victims of terror and Israel’s elite IDF combat units. With 100% of proceeds going directly—no overhead—to verified recipients under the guidance of the Iron Swords Distribution Committee, every dollar makes a difference.
✡️ Join Us. Stand with Israel. Be Part of This Historic Night.
Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM
Location: The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Main Ballroom
RSVP / Tickets: www.magbit.org
Contact: Email Dr. Emrani directly with questions: doctoremrani@gmail.com
🎟 Buy a table for your family. Reserve early—this event will sell out.
🇮🇱 Together, let’s show up as a proud, united community to support Israel at a time of unprecedented need.
https://www.magbit.org/events
Afshine Ash Emrani, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Assistant Clinical Professor, U.C.L.A.
David Geffen School of Medicine
Castle-Connolly Nationwide Top Doctor since 2008
Los Angeles Magazine Super Doctor since 2010
LA Style Magazine Top 100 Doctors in America 2024
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