Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a direct warning from the President of the United Arab Emirates about an imminent major offensive planned by Hamas just days before the militant group carried out an attack on October 7, 2023, as reported by an Israeli newspaper. President Mohammed bin Zayed of the U.A.E. had a conversation with Netanyahu 10 days prior to the attack, informing him that Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza at that time, was orchestrating an operation that could result in bloodshed and regional destabilization, posing a threat to the Abraham Accords – the normalization pacts 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 scenario, suggesting that a potential attack was more likely to originate from the occupied West Bank. The assault launched by Hamas militants on October 7 resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the capture of 251 hostages, according to Israeli authorities.
Following the publication of the report by Haaretz, Netanyahu’s office vehemently denied the claims, labeling them as “absolutely false” and stating that there was no communication between Netanyahu and the U.A.E. president during the mentioned timeframe, nor did he receive any alerts from him. The Prime Minister’s office later refuted the reports, asserting that any pertinent information would have been exchanged through intelligence channels between the two countries.
Netanyahu has rejected calls for an official investigation into the circumstances surrounding the October 7 attack, with his office declining to comment on the matter. The Foreign Ministry of the U.A.E. did not provide an immediate response to requests for comments. These events have become a significant issue in the lead-up to Israel’s upcoming national elections, with Netanyahu’s handling of the situation being a focal point in the campaign.
Former top general Gadi Eisenkot, who is viewed as Netanyahu’s primary rival in the election, criticized the Prime Minister for disregarding numerous warnings prior to the attack, stating on social media that Netanyahu is unfit for the role. Another opponent, Naftali Bennett, held Netanyahu personally accountable for the failure that led to the loss of thousands of Israeli lives during the incident. The offensive conducted by Israel in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 73,650 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
