UAE Sidesteps Reports of Pre-October 7 Warning to Netanyahu

The United Arab Emirates has issued a brief statement regarding reports that its president warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of an impending significant move by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar weeks before the October 7th attack. The UAE's statement indicated that the country "does not comment on media reports or speculation regarding discussions between government leaders," neither confirming nor denying the claims.

This comes after Netanyahu's office vehemently denied the reports, calling them "completely false" and stating that no such warning was received from the UAE prior to October 7th. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister's office added that any relevant intelligence would have been shared through official intelligence channels between the two nations.

The original report, published by "Haaretz," alleged that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed had conveyed a message to Netanyahu indicating Sinwar was preparing a major operation against Israel. The report suggested bin Zayed feared the move could lead to widespread bloodshed, destabilize the region, and jeopardize the Abraham Accords.

According to the report, a UAE advisor with ties to Gaza was also involved in the communication, relaying bin Zayed's assessment that Sinwar was planning a "significant event" and advising Israel to prepare, while also suggesting efforts to promote economic solutions in Gaza and de-escalate tensions in the West Bank.

The report gains further significance in light of a message allegedly sent by Sinwar to Israel's Shin Bet security agency in mid-September 2023, threatening a "huge surprise" if Israel did not "progress." At the time, senior officials reportedly believed Sinwar was referring to Israeli researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who had been abducted, and might use her for a prisoner exchange.