Netanyahu Denies UAE President Warned Him of Hamas Attack Before Oct. 7

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again denied reports that UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan warned him of a potential Hamas attack ten days before the October 7th events. The denial follows an investigation by the newspaper Haaretz, which claimed such a conversation had taken place between the two leaders. Netanyahu announced on social media platform X that he has instructed his lawyers to file a defamation lawsuit against Haaretz, journalist Shlomi Eldar, and others involved in the publication. He emphasized that no conversations occurred between himself and the UAE president from the beginning of September until October 7th. According to Netanyahu, the Prime Minister's Office, the National Security Council, and the Military Secretary's office have reviewed his phone logs for that period and found no evidence of contact with bin Zayed. The Prime Minister also accused Eldar of lying about Egypt having warned Israel of a potential attack, though Netanyahu stated that the fact of an Egyptian warning was confirmed in the United States.