Netanyahu Denies Receiving UAE Warning on Hamas Attack

A significant report claims Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a direct warning from UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed about a planned Hamas "big surprise" ten days before the October 7th massacre. The "warning call," reportedly lasting 45 minutes, was published by Israeli journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruti Yuval in the newspaper Haaretz. According to the report, Netanyahu did not update defense officials on this specific alert.

News Channel 13 reported that the Prime Minister's Office is demanding the UAE issue a denial of the report. However, no such statement has been released, which is being interpreted by some as an implicit confirmation. A senior Israeli official stated that Abu Dhabi does not appear to intend to intervene.

Former National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi and Avi Gil, who served as Netanyahu's military secretary, both stated they were unaware of such a call. However, sources involved in the report maintain that a lack of awareness among some officials does not negate the call's occurrence. The report also notes that calls between Netanyahu and bin Zayed were typically conducted via a UAE phone.

Opposition leaders Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan issued a joint statement demanding a state inquiry commission be immediately established by the next government. They accused Netanyahu of lying and failing to act on serious warnings, asserting he is unfit to continue in office. Eisenkot specifically questioned why Netanyahu, if he received the warning, did not alert defense chiefs.

Bennett stated Netanyahu bears direct responsibility for the failures leading to the massacre, calling his alleged disregard for warnings "criminal negligence." He criticized Netanyahu for focusing on appeasing Hamas and maintaining a policy of containment rather than preparing for an attack. Golan echoed these sentiments, stating Netanyahu "knew. You ignored. You failed. You are guilty!"

Opposition leader Yair Lapid also claimed Netanyahu was warned by multiple sources, including the UAE, Egypt, and his own intelligence chiefs, but dismissed these warnings. Lapid asserted that if Netanyahu had fulfilled his duties, the massacre could have been prevented.