Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a warning from the president of the United Arab Emirates regarding an impending offensive by Hamas just days before the militant group carried out an attack on Oct. 7, 2023. According to reports from an Israeli newspaper, U.A.E. President Mohammed bin Zayed communicated with Netanyahu 10 days prior to the attack, informing him that Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza at the time, was planning an operation that could result in violence, regional destabilization, and jeopardize the Abraham Accords – agreements normalizing relations between Israel and various Arab and Muslim-majority nations.
Despite the warning, Netanyahu reportedly remained composed and assured bin Zayed that Israel was prepared for any situation, suggesting that a potential attack might originate from the occupied West Bank instead. The assault by Hamas on Oct. 7 resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the taking of 251 hostages, as per Israeli authorities.
Netanyahu’s office has refuted the claims, labeling them as “false.” It was stated that if there was pertinent information, it would have been shared through intelligence channels between the two countries. Calls for an official government investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Oct. 7 attack have been dismissed by Netanyahu, with his office declining to comment further on the matter. The U.A.E.’s Foreign Ministry has not yet responded to requests for input.
As Israel gears up for national elections in the upcoming month, the actions of Netanyahu during the time of the Oct. 7 attack have become a pivotal issue in the campaign. Criticism has been directed at Netanyahu from various quarters, with Gadi Eisenkot, a former top general and a key opponent in the election, accusing the prime minister of disregarding numerous warnings leading up to the attack. Another rival of Netanyahu, Naftali Bennett, placed blame on him for the failure that resulted in the deaths of thousands of Israelis. The offensive conducted by Israel in Gaza has reportedly led to the loss of over 73,650 Palestinian lives, as per Gaza’s Health Ministry records.