UAE Warned Israel of Imminent Hamas Attack Before Oct. 7

A senior Middle Eastern intelligence official confirmed to Ynet and Yediot Ahronot that the United Arab Emirates provided Israel with a warning about a potential significant and imminent Hamas operation shortly before the October 7th attacks. The source described the intelligence as coming from a "very reliable" source, which was treated with "great seriousness" by Emirati officials. The warning indicated that an attack could occur "very soon" but did not include a specific date.

The official declined to provide further details about the nature of the intelligence or whether it specifically implicated Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. They also did not comment on the method of information transfer or whether UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ) spoke directly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the warning. The source emphasized the importance of maintaining discretion in communications between leaders to preserve ongoing dialogue, subtly referencing a past leak from Netanyahu's office regarding a meeting with MBZ.

This confirmation aligns with parts of a report published by Haaretz, which detailed a secret channel of communication between the UAE and Israel. The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a diplomatic statement acknowledging open communication channels with Israel since the normalization of relations, stating that relevant intelligence is shared when necessary, but declining to comment on specific media reports or speculations.

In contrast, the Prime Minister's Office issued a statement calling the reports "false" and asserting that Netanyahu "did not receive any warning from the United Arab Emirates before October 7." This statement followed an earlier denial from the PMO regarding a phone call with MBZ. The Emirati statement, while not denying a call or warning, focused on their consistent efforts towards de-escalation and regional stability.

The article further elaborates on the clandestine methods used for communication between Netanyahu and MBZ, involving secure phones and immediate destruction of devices to ensure the highest level of discretion. It also touches upon the complex political dynamics, including Netanyahu's strategy of managing relations with both the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and past instances of alleged information leaks from his office. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett reportedly confirmed the existence of a phone call between Netanyahu and the Emirati leader, though he did not disclose his source of information.