The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and leading opposition figure Gadi Eisenkot took to social media as their country marked three years since the devastating Hamas attacks of October 7. As the country mourned, the rival politicians played the blame game.

Eisenkot is the man widely thought to be most likely to beat Netanyahu in this month’s general election. He is running hard on accountability for the October 7 attack, in which 1,200 Israelis died and 251 were taken hostage.

The subject of Eisenkot’s October 7 post on X – and the main thrust of his campaign – is his assertion that the prime minister had been warned about a potential attack and failed to protect his people. He says his first act if elected will be to launch an inquiry and has challenged Netanyahu to a televised debate in which October 7 will be the main topic of discussion.

For his part, Netanyahu’s post on X sought to deflect any blame for October 7 to Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency. Far from being culpable for the attack, the statement from his Likud party said it was Netanyahu who had led the fightback and protected – was still protecting – Israel from its bitter enemies in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.

When Israelis go to the polls on October 27, it will be the first national election since the attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza. According to the Israeli Democracy Institute, 68% of Israeli Jews say October 7 is a central factor in deciding who to vote for.

So Netanyahu,........

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