As the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, gears up for a crucial election, he faces fresh accusations of disregarding warnings from Arab allies that could have averted the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023.
According to a new book excerpt in Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval claim that United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed personally called Netanyahu ten days before the assault to alert him about a potential major move by the militant group targeting Israel.
Eldar, speaking to CBC News at his residence near Tel Aviv, expressed disappointment that Netanyahu failed to relay the warning to key security officials, including the chief of staff, the heads of the Shin Bet and Mossad, and the defense minister.
The attacks on October 7 turned out to be the deadliest in Israel’s history, resulting in the loss of around 1,200 lives, including over 800 civilians, with 251 individuals held as hostages in Gaza.
Subsequent conflicts in Gaza following the attacks led to the death of over 74,000 people, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Eldar revealed that the warning from the U.A.E. did not specify a precise date but indicated that Hamas leader Yahiya Sinwar in Gaza was planning a significant event.
Israeli journalist Shlomi Eldar’s new book accuses United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed of warning Netanyahu about an impending Hamas move before the October 7 attacks. (CBC)
Following the Haaretz publication of these claims, other media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal and The Atlantic reported similar warnings from Egypt’s intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, just before October 7.
Netanyahu has dismissed these allegations as false and politically motivated attacks orchestrated by opponents and foreign entities seeking to undermine his election prospects on October 27.
He refuted receiving any warnings and labeled the accusations as baseless fabrications.
The U.A.E. has neither confirmed nor denied the claims made in Eldar’s and Yuval’s book titled Hostages: 843 Days of Abandonment, adding to the calls within Israel for a state commission to investigate security lapses.
A protester mimicking Netanyahu kneels with a sign in Hebrew marking the third anniversary of the attacks in Tel Aviv. (Avi Ohayon/Reuters)
This year’s commemorations for the October 7 victims saw protests in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv demanding accountability from Netanyahu.
Demonstrators held signs emphasizing no forgiveness for failure and abandonment, highlighting the importance of remembering the attacks during the upcoming election.
Eyal Eshel’s daughter, Roni, who perished in the attacks, is now honored at a memorial site near the Israeli/Gaza border where she and her fellow servicewomen were stationed.
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