UAE Warned Israel of Impending Hamas Attack Before October 7, Source Confirms

A high-ranking Middle Eastern intelligence source has confirmed to Ynet that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) conveyed a warning to Israel about a potential large-scale Hamas operation shortly before October 7, 2023. The source, familiar with the secret dealings between the UAE and Israel, stated that the information came from a "very reliable" source and was taken "very seriously" by UAE officials. The warning indicated that an event could occur "very soon," though a specific date was not provided. The source declined to elaborate on the details of the intelligence or whether it specified that the operation was initiated by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. It also remained unclear how the information was transmitted to Israel or if UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed discussed the warning directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

This confirmation aligns with a report by Israeli journalists Ruth Yuval and Shlomi Eldar, who, in an excerpt from their upcoming book, claimed that bin Zayed personally called Netanyahu in late September 2023. According to their account, the UAE president expressed concerns about a major Hamas operation that could lead to bloodshed, destabilize the region, and damage the Abraham Accords. Ronen Bergman, an expert in Israeli intelligence and security, noted that the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a diplomatic statement after Yuval and Eldar's report, stating they do not comment on media publications or speculations regarding leaders' conversations. However, the statement did not deny the phone call or the warning itself, and explicitly mentioned ongoing intelligence sharing between the two countries.

Netanyahu's office initially denied receiving any warnings from the UAE before October 7, with the Likud party labeling the reports as "malicious slander" and a politically motivated "election campaign" by the left. The Prime Minister's office also previously denied the existence of such a conversation. Bergman points out the phrasing of the denials, noting that while the office denied receiving a warning, it did not explicitly deny the phone call itself. He also highlights that Netanyahu's military secretary, Avi Gil, was reportedly not present during the alleged call, despite being the official who should have been privy to such intelligence.

Bergman describes a highly secure communication method used for direct calls between bin Zayed and Netanyahu, involving a disposable phone with a special application, destroyed immediately after use to ensure utmost secrecy. The analyst suggests that Netanyahu and his circle may be attempting to shift blame to the intelligence community. The Likud party, in a separate statement, accused Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar of seeing signs of the impending attack and failing to take preventive measures, suggesting that had they acted, the "terrible massacre could have been avoided."