UAE President Warned Netanyahu of Hamas Attack Before Oct. 7

UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approximately a week and a half before the October 7th Hamas attacks that Yahya Sinwar was planning a "significant event," according to a report by Haaretz. Bin Zayed reportedly conveyed this warning during a 45-minute phone call from Abu Dhabi, expressing concern that such an event could lead to bloodshed, destabilize the region, and harm the Abraham Accords. The source of Bin Zayed's information was allegedly a close Palestinian advisor who maintained strong ties to Gaza.

Despite the warning, Netanyahu reportedly responded calmly, suggesting Hamas was more likely to act in the West Bank and assuring Bin Zayed that Israel was prepared for any scenario. Crucially, the report states that the heads of Israel's security apparatus, including the Shin Bet, Mossad, and the IDF Chief of Staff, were not informed of this specific warning from the UAE president. This lack of dissemination has sparked outrage and demands for an investigation into what Netanyahu knew and why he did not share the intelligence with top security officials.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett sharply criticized Netanyahu, stating he "led us blindly straight into this terrible disaster." Bennett accused Netanyahu of being too focused on the notion that Hamas was an "asset" and of acting with "criminal negligence" by ignoring explicit warnings. He asserted that if he had received such a warning, he would have immediately convened security chiefs and raised alert levels.

Political reactions have been fierce. The Democratic Party accused Netanyahu of "putting us all to sleep" and "deliberately excluding" security leaders from the intelligence. Former IDF General and current politician Gadi Eisenkot stated Netanyahu is "unfit" and ignored numerous warnings. The October 4th Council, a group focused on the events of October 7th, questioned how many times Israel was "tried to be woken up" before the attack, referencing this and other prior warnings, including one from Egypt.

Calls for a state commission of inquiry are widespread, with Bennett, Eisenkot, and the Movement for Quality of Government all demanding an independent investigation into the intelligence failures and Netanyahu's actions. The Movement for Quality of Government has also petitioned the High Court of Justice for the establishment of such a commission.