UAE Official Denies Presidential Warning to Israel on Hamas Attack

An official source in the United Arab Emirates has denied claims that President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan warned Israel of an impending Hamas attack in the weeks leading up to October 7. The denial comes in response to a report by "Haaretz" newspaper.

Speaking to "The National" newspaper, the UAE official stated that such a conversation did not take place. He added that the UAE discusses security issues with other nations through relevant channels and does not engage in such discussions at the level of national leaders.

Previously, the UAE's response to the report was more ambiguous, avoiding a direct confirmation or denial of the call. At that time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the UAE government does not comment on media stories or speculations regarding conversations between heads of government. The statement emphasized that the UAE's involvement since October 7 has consistently aimed at de-escalation, regional stability, and preventing violence.

The earlier statement also noted that UAE and Israeli government officials have maintained open and direct communication lines since the normalization of relations over five years ago, and that relevant intelligence has been and continues to be shared between the appropriate bodies when necessary.