Key facts
- The UAE has not directly confirmed or denied warning Netanyahu about a potential Hamas attack before October 7.
- The UAE stated that security matters are handled through "relevant entities" in discussions with other countries.
- An earlier Haaretz report claimed UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu about Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar planning a large-scale operation.
- Netanyahu's office has denied the report, calling it an "absolute lie."
- Israeli opposition leaders have called for an investigation into Netanyahu's handling of pre-attack warnings.
The United Arab Emirates has responded evasively to questions regarding whether it had alerted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a potential Hamas attack prior to October 7, 2023. In a statement to The National, an Abu Dhabi-based newspaper, the UAE indicated that security matters are managed through "relevant entities" in collaboration with other nations, without directly confirming or denying the specific claim.
A report by Haaretz suggested that UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed had contacted Netanyahu approximately ten days before the October 7 attacks. During a 45-minute conversation, bin Zayed reportedly issued a clear warning that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing a large-scale operation targeting Israel. The report cited a message Sinwar conveyed through a Palestinian mediator in mid-September 2023, warning of an upcoming "earthquake."
Netanyahu's office has vehemently denied the report, labeling it an "absolute lie" and stating that the Prime Minister did not speak with the UAE president during the period in question. However, journalists behind the Haaretz report have pushed back against this denial, with one stating they have documentation to support the claim.
In Israel, the report has intensified political backlash against Netanyahu, particularly with national elections approaching. Opposition party leaders, including Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan, issued a joint statement demanding an "immediate and thorough investigation" into Netanyahu's alleged "failures and malfunctioning." Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett asserted the report was "true" and described Netanyahu's alleged disregard for warnings as "criminal negligence."