Israel deliberately labeled Thursday night’s security-cabinet meeting as a discussion on hostage negotiations in order to lull Tehran and green-light the pre-dawn strike inside Iran, a senior Israeli source told The Jerusalem Post on Friday.

According to the official, ministers were briefed in advance that the agenda would focus on the stalled talks for the release of Israelis held in Gaza. “The aim was to put Iran to sleep,” the source said.

Once inside the secure forum, the cabinet unanimously approved the military operation and every minister signed a strict non-disclosure agreement, known as a Shomer Sod (“guardian of the secret”) document.

Only a handful of officials—including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Mossad director David (Dedi) Barnea and senior defense chiefs—were read into the full plan.

(Illustrative) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the backdrop of an Iranian oil field. (credit: Canva, MARC ISRAEL SELLEM, RAHEB HOMAVANDI/REUTERS)
(Illustrative) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the backdrop of an Iranian oil field. (credit: Canva, MARC ISRAEL SELLEM, RAHEB HOMAVANDI/REUTERS)

False signals from PMO

In the days leading up to the strike, the Prime Minister’s Office orchestrated a series of false signals:
  • Vacation ruse: Netanyahu’s aides briefed reporters that he was planning a family holiday in the Galilee and would be attending his son Avner’s wedding next Tuesday, reinforcing the impression that no major military action was imminent.
  • Washington decoy: The PMO issued a statement claiming that Dermer and Barnea would fly to Washington on Friday to meet US envoy Steve Witkoff for a “sixth round” of Iran-US nuclear talks in Oman— talks that do not exist. Both men remained in Israel.
  • Leak strategy: For the first time, Netanyahu’s office declined to deny fabricated quotes describing a dispute between the prime minister and former US president Donald Trump over a potential strike, creating the sense of a diplomatic rift and further lowering Iranian alert levels.
The deception campaign unfolded against a backdrop of domestic political drama over the IDF draft law and speculation that the coalition might collapse. “It was the perfect smoke screen,” the source said, adding that US officials were fully briefed despite the public theatrics.

Channel 12 journalist Amit Segal noted on X that Trump had publicly given Iran “60 days to reach a deal” on April 12. “Today is day 61,” he wrote, hinting that the deadline factored into Jerusalem’s timing.

Israeli defense officials believe the element of surprise maximized the operation’s impact and may buy Israel critical time as Iran edges closer to nuclear breakout capability.