UAE President Reportedly Warned Netanyahu of Hamas Attack Before Oct. 7

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed reportedly warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about an impending major Hamas operation approximately ten days before the October 7, 2023, attacks, according to an investigation by Haaretz. The two leaders allegedly spoke for about 45 minutes, during which bin Zayed explicitly stated that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing a large-scale action against Israel. The UAE president also expressed concerns that such an attack could lead to significant bloodshed, destabilize the region, and undermine the Abraham Accords.

Haaretz reported that Netanyahu received this warning but did not inform Israeli security officials, citing three senior officials briefed on the alleged conversation. The Prime Minister's office vehemently denied the report, calling it a "total lie" and stating that Netanyahu did not speak with the UAE president during that period or receive any warning.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett publicly supported Haaretz's findings on social media platform X, accusing Netanyahu of bearing "personal and direct" responsibility for the failures preceding the October 7 massacre. Bennett called the alleged ignorance of the warnings "criminal negligence" and criticized Netanyahu for not alerting security officials, convening the cabinet, or preparing the country for an attack. He also accused Netanyahu of pursuing a policy of appeasement towards Hamas, including financial transfers and work permits, despite security warnings.

Bennett, with 50 days until elections, vowed that a change in government would lead to the establishment of an inquiry commission to reveal the "whole truth" about the events leading up to the massacre. He asserted that Netanyahu could not remain in office and was incapable of rectifying the failure.

The full Haaretz investigation, based on an 18-month inquiry by journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruthy Yuval for their upcoming book, is expected to be published this weekend.