Shin Bet Chief Warns ‘Next October 7’ Could Target Eilat — Agency Says No Specific Warning

Shin Bet director David Zini has privately warned that a repeat of the October 7 attacks could take place in Eilat, according to reporting in Haaretz. Zini instructed senior agency officials to prioritize planning and intelligence collection on scenarios involving a possible land or maritime assault on the southern port city, which he views as a security vulnerability due to its isolated geography.

Within Shin Bet discussions and in talks with external security partners, Zini outlined a scenario that includes a ground incursion from land borders — particularly from the Jordanian side — and did not rule out an assault from the sea. He has directed the agency’s intelligence units to focus on the threat picture for Eilat. Some security officials, however, have expressed skepticism about the weight Zini places on the risk and about whether there is concrete, actionable intelligence indicating an imminent planned strike.

Broader Readiness Across Multiple Fronts

Separate reporting in Maariv in January described a wider security review convened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to assess Israel’s readiness to fight on multiple fronts: Iran, Yemen, Lebanon and Gaza. Military sources said the Israel Defense Forces worked to build operational capabilities across these arenas while Military Intelligence, the Mossad and other branches compiled target banks. At the time, officials did not assign a formal priority among the theaters.

The security establishment has also flagged the Houthis in Yemen as a learning adversary. Despite internal challenges and tensions with Saudi Arabia, Israeli assessments found the Houthis continued seeking ways to challenge Israel — from ballistic missile launches to the possibility of irregular ground actions. In response, the IDF carried out a large-scale exercise in the sector overseen by the 80th Regional Brigade, simulating raids, hostage-taking and the infiltration of a tourist city.

VIEW OF the Southern Israeli city of Eilat. September 9, 2025. (credit: YANIV NADAV/FLASH90)

Local Officials Call For Steps To Fortify The Eastern Border

Hanan Ginat, head of the Hevel Eilot Regional Council, said the Shin Bet and Defense Ministry comments "are not surprising" and reflect warnings his area has issued since October 7. Ginat described the eastern border region as currently the nation's most sensitive and highlighted ongoing criminal smuggling across the southern Arava border with Jordan — including weapons, drugs and unauthorized entrants — which could be exploited by hostile actors.

Ginat said regional and national security units are cooperating closely and urged the state to reallocate resources to the eastern Arava border, strengthen local community defense units and prepare for the security challenges ahead.

Shin Bet And Eilat Officials Stress Preparedness

The Shin Bet responded that Zini's visit to Eilat was part of his induction and a systematic threat-assessment process carried out in coordination with the IDF. The agency emphasized there is "no concrete information or warning" of an imminent attack and described the activity as routine operational planning across its areas of responsibility.

Eilat Mayor Eli Lankri also said there was no concrete, immediate intelligence of a new threat, while stressing that municipal and national security forces are prepared. Lankri said painful lessons from the October 7 attacks have informed current defenses and that security measures were reinforced during the war, including along the eastern border. He called on the state to continue investing in Eilat’s security, medical services, emergency infrastructure and public services to protect residents and the many summer visitors.

Bottom line: Shin Bet is prioritizing planning for an attack on Eilat as part of systematic threat assessments; officials say there is no specific, actionable warning, while local leaders press for more resources and preparedness along the eastern border.