UAE Denies Warning Netanyahu About Hamas Attack Before October 7

An official source in the United Arab Emirates has officially denied claims that Abu Dhabi had warned Israel about a Hamas attack in the weeks leading up to October 7. Responding to an inquiry from The National newspaper, the Emirati official detailed the country's information-sharing procedures, stating that security matters are discussed through relevant bodies, not at the level of national leaders. The report of a conversation between UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu originated from a new book by journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval.

According to the book's investigation, bin Zayed called Netanyahu after receiving intelligence that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning an "earthquake" in Israel. Eldar described a unique communication method involving a special app developed by the UAE, where a representative from the embassy would arrive with the app and a phone for a 45-minute call. The book alleges that during this alleged conversation, Netanyahu attempted to reassure bin Zayed, stating Israel was "prepared in Gaza" and anticipated any issues would arise in the West Bank. It further claims Netanyahu did not update then-IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, then-Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, or then-Mossad chief David Barnea following this supposed call.

This report contradicts previous statements made by Netanyahu's office. In September 2023, Netanyahu announced his intention to file a defamation lawsuit against Haaretz newspaper, Eldar, and others over the initial publication of the claim that bin Zayed had warned him. At the time, Netanyahu's office issued a strong statement calling the report a "false fabrication" and "a lie that never happened." The Prime Minister's office asserted that checks of Netanyahu's call logs, the National Security Council, and the Military Secretary's office for the period between early September and October 7 revealed no record of such a conversation. They also stated that policy discussions between Netanyahu and bin Zayed occur via an encrypted communication device brought by a UAE representative to the Prime Minister's office and are always documented. Furthermore, checks of entry logs to the Prime Minister's office found no record of an Emirati representative entering the premises, which they emphasized is impossible without security clearance.

Netanyahu also refuted Eldar's claim regarding an Egyptian warning, stating it was also untrue and had been debunked early in the war. The Prime Minister characterized the publication as a "malicious fabrication with clear political timing," part of a left-wing election campaign.