Legal Analyst Defends Netanyahu Amid Reports of UAE Warning

Legal journalist Aviad Gringauz has publicly challenged reports claiming that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a specific warning from the UAE president about an impending Hamas attack before October 7th. Gringauz described the initial report by Shlomi Eldar as a "journalistic duck" lacking internal logic. He further criticized the reliance on a previously denied and factually inconsistent report from October 9, 2023, by Smadar Peri, suggesting it was being presented as absolute truth three years later to bolster Eldar's narrative.

Earlier reports from i24News, citing two sources familiar with the matter, indicated that the Biden administration was unaware of any concrete warning from the UAE regarding Hamas's planned large-scale attack prior to October 7th. These sources also stated that the administration had not heard of such a specific UAE warning even after the October 7th events. However, the lack of awareness within the Biden administration does not preclude the possibility that such a warning was conveyed to Israeli officials.

The original report in "Haaretz" alleged that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed spoke with Netanyahu about a week and a half before the October 7th attack, warning him that Yahya Sinwar was planning a significant move against Israel. According to the report, the UAE president sought to alert Netanyahu to a development that could lead to bloodshed and regional instability. The "Haaretz" report also claimed that Netanyahu believed the potential move concerned the West Bank and that Israeli security officials were not informed of this alleged warning.

The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement that did not deny the conversation took place but stated the government does not comment on media stories or speculation regarding leadership discussions. The statement emphasized the UAE's consistent efforts since October 7th to de-escalate tensions, promote regional stability, and prevent violence. It also confirmed that the UAE government and Israeli government officials maintain open and direct communication channels, and relevant intelligence has been and continues to be shared as needed.