Netanyahu Urged Restraint in Gaza Before Oct. 7, NYT Reports

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for maintaining quiet in the Gaza Strip in a security discussion held six days before the October 7th Hamas attack, partly to avoid jeopardizing normalization talks with Saudi Arabia, according to a report by The New York Times. The newspaper based its account on a protocol from a meeting on October 1, 2023, which reportedly did not mention an alleged warning from UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed about a significant Hamas offensive.

This report adds details to previous accounts, including one from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which stated that bin Zayed had warned Netanyahu in late September 2023 about Hamas preparing a major move against Israel. The New York Times examined the protocol, which involved senior security officials, some of whom advocated for strikes against Hamas leaders involved in directing terror activities in the West Bank. However, Netanyahu opposed actions that could lead to broad escalation in Gaza, fearing it would harm the nascent Saudi-Israeli normalization agreement.

Sources speaking to The New York Times, who either spoke directly with bin Zayed or were briefed by someone involved in his conversation with Netanyahu, indicated that the UAE president received information suggesting Hamas's intent to attack, though specifics on whether it involved rockets or a ground invasion were unclear. The original source of this information remains unconfirmed.

Furthermore, five former senior Israeli officials involved in post-October 7th reviews told the newspaper they were unaware of the alleged warning reaching the top echelons of the security establishment. They also stated that internal investigations did not document such a conversation between Netanyahu and bin Zayed. The New York Times also reported that bin Zayed later discussed the conversation with then-CIA Director William Burns, relaying that he had warned Netanyahu about potential Hamas violence in the West Bank or Gaza.

While an Emirati source familiar with the conversation confirmed to The Times of Israel that a warning was conveyed, the Prime Minister's Office categorically denied the reports, stating, "The media reports are false. No warning was given to the Prime Minister from the United Arab Emirates before October 7th." They added that any relevant information would have been shared through intelligence channels. The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs initially stated it does not comment on leaders' conversations but emphasized direct communication channels and the transfer of relevant intelligence. Later, an Emirati official told The National that security matters are discussed between relevant bodies, not at the leaders' level. Earlier reports cited by Israeli Channel 12, based on three senior Emirati sources, claimed UAE intelligence passed a warning to the Shin Bet in September 2023 about a potential Hamas operation, and that bin Zayed followed up with Netanyahu, who allegedly dismissed it.