NYT: Netanyahu Warned of Hamas Attack Before October 7

An investigation by The New York Times has revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a warning about a potential large-scale Hamas attack days before the October 7th assault but did not relay this information during a security briefing. According to the report, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan allegedly called Netanyahu in late September 2023 to warn him that Hamas was considering a major offensive. Two sources familiar with the conversation confirmed its content, though the warning lacked specific details about the nature of the attack, such as whether it would involve rocket fire or a ground invasion.

Several days later, on October 1st, Netanyahu held a meeting with security officials regarding the situation in Gaza. The New York Times obtained the minutes of this meeting, which indicated that the warning from the UAE president was not mentioned. Five former senior Israeli officials told the newspaper that Netanyahu did not share the information with security chiefs. During the October 1st meeting, Netanyahu reportedly emphasized maintaining calm in Gaza and did not support proposals for strikes against Hamas leaders in response to attacks in Judea and Samaria. He also expressed concern that escalation in Gaza could jeopardize efforts to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia.

Later, Mohammed bin Zayed reportedly informed then-CIA Director William Burns about the warning he had given to Netanyahu, stating he had alerted the Israeli prime minister to the threat of a Hamas attack in Gaza or Judea and Samaria. However, the original source of the UAE's intelligence remains unclear, and The New York Times could not identify it.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has categorically denied that the phone call with the UAE president took place and rejected the claim that he received such a warning.