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 launched an attack on October 7, 2023, as per a report by an Israeli newspaper. UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed informed Netanyahu 10 days prior to the attack that Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza, was orchestrating an operation that could result in bloodshed and regional instability, potentially undermining the Abraham Accords – agreements normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab and Muslim-majority nations.
Despite the warning, Netanyahu reportedly responded calmly, assuring bin Zayed that Israel was prepared for any potential scenario and suggesting that a potential attack was more likely to originate from the occupied West Bank. The attack carried out by Hamas on October 7 resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the capture of 251 hostages, as reported by Israeli authorities.
In response to the claims made by Haaretz, Netanyahu’s office dismissed the report as a “complete fabrication,” denying that Netanyahu had any communication with the UAE president during the specified period or received any warnings from him. Subsequently, the prime minister’s office refuted the reports as “false,” stating that any relevant information would have been shared through intelligence channels between the two countries.
Amidst the ongoing controversy, calls for an official government investigation into the events surrounding the October 7 attack have been rejected by Netanyahu. The UAE’s Foreign Ministry has yet to provide a comment on the matter. These developments are unfolding against the backdrop of upcoming national elections in Israel, with Netanyahu’s handling of the October 7 attack emerging as a pivotal issue in the campaign.
Gadi Eisenkot, a former senior general and key opponent of Netanyahu in the elections, criticized the prime minister for disregarding numerous warnings leading up to the attack, labeling him as “unfit” in a social media post. Another political rival, Naftali Bennett, held Netanyahu directly accountable for the failure that resulted in the loss of numerous Israeli lives. The offensive by Israel in Gaza has reportedly claimed the lives of over 73,650 Palestinians, according to data from Gaza’s Health Ministry.
