The Emirates warned Netanyahu of a major Hamas attack before October 7

JerusalemThe President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed, warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Hamas was planning a major operation against Israel days before the October 7th attacks, according to an investigation published this Tuesday by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. Netanyahu reportedly dismissed the warning, even though the Emirati president, in a 45-minute direct conversation, had asked him to take the threat seriously. The conversation took place about ten days before the attacks, according to the newspaper, which cites three senior officials familiar with its content.

Mohammed bin Zayed reportedly warned Netanyahu that the then-leader of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar, was planning a major operation against Israel. The Israeli prime minister reportedly responded that he believed Hamas intended to act in the West Bank and assured the president of the Emirates that Israel was prepared for any scenario. Netanyahu, however, did not report this warning in the security meetings held prior to October 7th. Both the former head of the Shin Bet, Israel's security service, Ronen Bar, and the former chief of staff of the army, Herzi Halevi, told Haaretz that they had not been informed of the warning conveyed by the president of the Emirates.

According to the investigation, in September 2023 Sinwar had warned, through an intermediary with contacts in both Hamas and Israel, that he was preparing a "zilzal", that is, an earthquake. Later, he described what he was planning as "the mother of all surprises" and "a terrifying operation". The message finally reached the leadership of the Emirates and, on September 15th, the Shin Bet.

Bar informed Netanyahu of Sinwar's warning, after which senior defense officials held a situation assessment meeting two days later. In that meeting, Bar reportedly recommended strengthening defensive measures in Gaza and the West Bank, but no decision was made. The investigation also explains that the head of Egyptian intelligence, Abbas Kamel, contacted Netanyahu during those days and warned him that Hamas was preparing "something unusual." Netanyahu reportedly responded that Israel had the situation under control in Gaza and that it was focusing the deployment of troops in the West Bank.

For the moment, the Israeli prime minister's office has quickly come out to deny the report. "An absolute lie! Prime Minister Netanyahu did not speak with the president of the United Arab Emirates during the period in question and did not receive any warning from him," it stated. The Emirates have not yet responded to the investigation.