Ofer Winter Warned Netanyahu of Catastrophic Losses in Gaza Ground War
Former IDF Brigadier General Ofer Winter held a secret meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after October 7, urging a siege of Gaza over a ground invasion and warning of massive military casualties.
Secret Meeting in a Safe House
Brigadier General (res.) Ofer Winter, leader of the Amcha Israel party, revealed in an interview with Amit Segal that he met secretly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shortly after October 7, 2023. The meeting, held in a safe house without the authorization of Winter's military superiors, was aimed at convincing the prime minister to prioritize a total siege on the Gaza Strip over a ground invasion.
According to sources, Winter presented severe scenarios during these closed-door discussions:
"The army is not fit; it does not know how to execute such a maneuver. There will be 15,000 dead soldiers. High-rise buildings will collapse on companies, and thousands of soldiers will be abducted. It will be a national disaster."
At the time, Winter held the rank of brigadier general but did not have an official active command. Sources state he also met with senior military officials to present his stance.
Accusations of Demoralization and Delay
A former senior officer claimed that Winter's warnings caused demoralization during the initial weeks of the war. According to this officer, Winter frightened Netanyahu, which directly contributed to the delay in launching the ground offensive.
Another former official noted that Winter was brought to Netanyahu alongside other figures skeptical of the military establishment's plans, such as Major General (res.) Yitzhak Brick. This move was reportedly intended to challenge the authority of then-IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. It was previously reported that Netanyahu consulted extensively with Brick, who also warned against a ground invasion and advocated for a hermetic siege.
Career Fallout and Winter's Response
Winter's opposition to the ground plans is widely believed within IDF leadership circles to have halted his military advancement. Reports linked his lack of promotion to his conduct at the start of the war, including statements that entering Gaza could become a "death trap." Winter later clarified that he did not oppose a ground maneuver in principle, but rather a blind entry before operational plans were properly adjusted.
In response, a spokesperson for Winter stated:
"The claim that I said there would be 15,000 dead and that the IDF cannot win is an absolute lie. My proposal was clear: a powerful, short, and smart war leading to a decisive victory, rather than a three-year campaign without resolution."
