Was Netanyahu warned in advance about Hamas attack?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s office has rejected reports that he was warned in advance about the October 2023, Hamas attacks by UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed. No warning was given to the Prime Minister by the United Arab Emirates before October 7.
In a post on X, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said any exchange of relevant information took place only through intelligence channels between the two countries. Mohammed bin Zayed had warned Netanyahu that Hamas’ then-leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing a “major attack” on Israel, according to a new investigative report published by Israeli newspaper Haaretz. Bin Zayed was “surprised” by Netanyahu’s response, as the Israeli prime minister did not appear “alarmed”, according to a UAE presidential advisor interviewed for the book. “He (Netanyahu) said that he believed Hamas was preparing to act in the West Bank and assured him that Israel was ready to respond to any scenario,” the report quoted the adviser as saying. Bin Zayed reportedly expressed concern that “something there is about to explode” and said Netanyahu had instead focused on the West Bank.
“The press reports are false. If there was any relevant information, it was passed through intelligence channels between the two countries,” it posted. The Emirati leader later discussed the warning with then-CIA Director William J Burns.