Netanyahu Received Vague Hamas Attack Warning From UAE Leader, Report Says

A New York Times report published Friday details a purported warning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received before the October 7th Hamas attacks. The warning, allegedly from UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, contained "unspecified information" about Hamas considering a major attack, according to former senior Israeli officials cited by the newspaper. These officials claimed the warning was not shared with heads of the security establishment.

Sources who spoke with bin Zayed and others briefed on the conversation stated the UAE leader indicated Hamas was "considering carrying out a major attack." However, the information provided to Netanyahu was not specific regarding whether Hamas planned to launch rockets or prepare for a ground invasion.

Despite receiving this warning in late September, Netanyahu reportedly did not raise it during a meeting with security chiefs on October 1st, less than a week before the massacre. According to a meeting transcript the Times claims to have obtained, Netanyahu's stated objective for Gaza was "to maintain the peace there." He also rejected a security officials' proposal to target Hamas leaders, who were responsible for attacks in the West Bank.

During the October 1st meeting, Netanyahu allegedly stated that any Israeli action in Gaza could hinder Saudi Arabia's potential diplomatic relations with Israel, which he believed were imminent. The "warning call" has not been mentioned in any Israeli security investigations published to date.

Furthermore, the report suggests bin Zayed mentioned his conversation with Netanyahu to then-CIA Director William Burns, stating he would inform Netanyahu about a "potential threat from Hamas" in the West Bank or Gaza. It remains unclear what intelligence bin Zayed relied on for his warning or if other topics were discussed.