Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a direct warning from the president of the United Arab Emirates regarding an imminent attack planned by Hamas just before the militant group launched an assault on October 7, 2023. The communication between UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed and Netanyahu took place 10 days before the attack, with bin Zayed alerting Netanyahu about Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s operation, which was predicted to result in violence and potential destabilization of the region, jeopardizing the Abraham Accords – the normalization agreements between Israel and various Arab and Muslim-majority nations.
Despite the warning, Netanyahu remained composed and assured bin Zayed that Israel was prepared for any eventuality, suggesting that a potential attack was more likely to originate from the occupied West Bank. The subsequent attack orchestrated by Hamas militants on October 7 resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the abduction of another 251, as confirmed by Israeli authorities.
In response to the reports, Netanyahu’s office denied the claims, labeling them as “an absolute lie” and refuting any communication between Netanyahu and the UAE president during the specified period, denying receipt of any warning. Netanyahu has dismissed calls for an official government investigation into the events surrounding the attack and has not provided any comments on the matter. Similarly, the UAE’s Foreign Ministry has not issued any immediate statements in response to inquiries.
The upcoming national elections in Israel have placed a spotlight on Netanyahu’s actions leading up to the October 7 attack, with his handling of the situation becoming a central campaign issue. Gadi Eisenkot, a former senior general and a prominent opponent of Netanyahu in the elections, criticized the Prime Minister for disregarding numerous warnings preceding the attack, asserting that Netanyahu is unfit for his position. Another political rival of Netanyahu, Naftali Bennett, directly held Netanyahu accountable for the failures that resulted in the loss of numerous lives during the attack.
Notably, Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has reportedly led to the deaths of over 73,650 Palestinians, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry.
