Intelligence Source Confirms UAE Warning to Israel Before Oct. 7 Hamas Attack

A senior Middle Eastern intelligence official has confirmed to Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) warned Israel shortly before the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre about an "important and imminent" operation being prepared by the terrorist group. The official, who is well-informed about confidential exchanges between Abu Dhabi and Jerusalem, stated the information came from a "highly reliable" source and was taken "very seriously" by Emirati authorities. However, the warning did not include a specific date, only indicating the operation could occur "very soon."

The intelligence official did not specify how the alert was transmitted to Israel or confirm if Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed personally discussed the information with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call. This statement partially corroborates a Haaretz investigation, which reported that bin Zayed had called Netanyahu about ten days before October 7 to warn him that Yahya Sinwar was preparing a major operation against Israel. According to that investigation, the call lasted approximately 45 minutes, during which the Emirati leader expressed concerns about regional stability and the Abraham Accords.

The Prime Minister's Office has categorically denied these claims, calling the published reports "false" and stating that Netanyahu "received no warning from the UAE before October 7." They added that any relevant intelligence would have been transmitted through the usual channels between the intelligence services of both countries. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has neither confirmed nor denied the existence of the call, issuing a statement that they do not comment on "press reports or speculation regarding conversations between leaders." However, they emphasized that Israeli and Emirati government bodies maintain direct communication channels and exchange relevant intelligence when necessary.

Ynet reported that the alleged conversations between Netanyahu and bin Zayed may have been arranged outside traditional Israeli communication methods. An Emirati intelligence representative reportedly provided the Prime Minister's office with a new phone equipped with a secure application before leaving the room during the call. The device was then allegedly destroyed to ensure the confidentiality of the exchange, which could explain why such a conversation might not appear on official agendas or Israeli communication systems.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett publicly asserted that the call reported by Haaretz did occur, though he did not specify the basis for his statement. He accused Netanyahu of ignoring the warning and called for a state commission of inquiry into the events preceding the massacre. Ynet also reported that an indirect channel with senior Hamas officials had conveyed information attributed to Yahya Sinwar as early as mid-September 2023, suggesting Hamas would present something before the end of the month that could cause an "earthquake" and lead to the release of all Palestinian prisoners. This information reportedly led to several meetings within the Israeli intelligence community and a discussion with the Prime Minister, though some officials believed it might refer to the potential transfer of Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, abducted in Iraq, rather than a military offensive.

Additionally, Major General Amit Saar, then head of the Military Intelligence Research Division, issued several warnings to the government during the summer of 2023, believing Israel's enemies perceived the country as weakened by internal divisions and that a conflagration could erupt on multiple fronts, including Gaza. At this stage, the existence of a direct conversation between bin Zayed and Netanyahu has not been independently established and remains at the heart of conflicting accounts between press investigations and the Prime Minister's office's denials.