Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a direct warning from the president of the United Arab Emirates concerning an imminent major offensive planned by Hamas just days before the militant group launched an attack on October 7, 2023. U.A.E. President Mohammed bin Zayed personally informed Netanyahu about intelligence suggesting that Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza at the time, was orchestrating an operation that could lead to violence, regional instability, and jeopardize the Abraham Accords – the normalization agreements between Israel and various Arab and Muslim-majority nations. Despite the warning, Netanyahu reportedly remained composed and assured bin Zayed that Israel was ready for any potential threats, indicating that any likely attack would originate from the occupied West Bank.
The assault carried out by Hamas on October 7 resulted in the loss of around 1,200 lives and the capture of 251 individuals, as reported by Israeli authorities. Netanyahu’s office promptly dismissed the claims made by Haaretz as an “absolute lie,” refuting any communication between Netanyahu and the U.A.E. president during the specified timeframe or receiving any advance notice from him.
Subsequently, Netanyahu’s office categorically denied the reports as “false,” emphasizing that if there was pertinent information, it would have been shared through intelligence channels between the two nations. Despite calls for an official government investigation into the events surrounding the October 7 attack, Netanyahu has rejected such demands, with his office declining to provide further comments.
The Foreign Ministry of the U.A.E. has yet to respond to requests for comments on the matter. The timing of Netanyahu’s actions surrounding the October 7 attack has become a significant focal point in Israel’s upcoming national elections, with critics, including Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett, holding Netanyahu accountable for alleged lapses that led to the tragic outcomes. The offensive by Israel in Gaza has reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 73,650 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.