Opposition Slams Netanyahu Over Alleged UAE Warning Before Hamas Attack

Opposition leaders in Israel have sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following a report alleging that the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, warned Netanyahu about an impending significant move by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar approximately 10 days before the October 7th massacre. The report, published by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, claims bin Zayed spoke with Netanyahu for about 45 minutes in late September 2023, after Sinwar had sent messages indicating he was preparing a "major earthquake" and a "terrifying operation." Bin Zayed reportedly advised Israel to prepare, but Netanyahu allegedly assessed that Hamas was planning actions in the West Bank.

Opposition figures, including former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Yair Golan, leader of the Democratic Party, have seized on the report, demanding a state inquiry and Netanyahu's resignation. Bennett asserted the report's details are true and accused Netanyahu of "criminal negligence" for ignoring warnings, failing to update security chiefs, and continuing a policy of "containment" towards Hamas, including financial transfers and increased worker permits from Gaza. Golan stated the report "shatters all the lies" Netanyahu has told, particularly regarding not being awakened on the day of the attack, and claimed Netanyahu deliberately excluded security officials from the information.

The Prime Minister's Office has vehemently denied the report, issuing a statement calling it a "complete lie" and asserting that Netanyahu did not speak with the UAE President during the specified period nor receive any warning. The report further claims that the content of the alleged conversation was not shared with the Minister of Defense, the Chief of Staff, the head of the Shin Bet, or the head of the Mossad. Former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar confirmed they were not briefed on such a warning.

Bennett suggested that Netanyahu's resistance to a state inquiry stems from fear of its findings, arguing that the Prime Minister is the primary subject of such an investigation. He also claimed Netanyahu continued to fund Hamas and ignored warnings for years, leading to the "massacre." Merav Ben-Ari, a Member of Knesset, echoed these sentiments, accusing Netanyahu of deliberately keeping security officials in the dark out of fear of having to initiate an attack rather than merely react. The Democratic Party added that Netanyahu "put us all to sleep" and that the "prime minister of destruction" would be held accountable at the ballot box and in a future state inquiry.