Netanyahu Met Security Chiefs Before Oct. 7, Ignored UAE Warning

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not relay a warning he received from UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan about a potential Hamas attack prior to October 7 to senior Israeli security officials, five former Israeli officials told The New York Times. According to meeting minutes obtained by the Times, Netanyahu convened a meeting with top security officials on October 1, 2023, to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip. However, he reportedly did not mention the UAE president's warning during this discussion.

Instead, Netanyahu told the officials that the objective should be to maintain quiet in Gaza and expressed opposition to military strikes against Hamas leaders in the Strip. He stated that any action in Gaza could jeopardize the prospects of establishing diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia. The officials who spoke to the Times indicated that Netanyahu's focus was on preventing escalation, a stance that contrasted with the intelligence received from the UAE.