Egypt Warned Israel of Gaza Attack 11 Days Before Oct. 7

Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel delivered a stark warning to Israel on September 26, 2023, just 11 days before Hamas's October 7th attack, stating that "if you do not change course, Gaza will explode in your face." This revelation comes from an extensive report by The Atlantic, which cites Israeli, Egyptian, Arab, American, and European sources briefed on the visit after the attack.

Kamel's visit to Israel was brief, lasting only 67 minutes, but carried a critical message about Hamas's organizational and recruitment activities for a major offensive. While Kamel did not provide a specific date or detailed operational plans, he reportedly offered economic incentives to de-escalate the situation. The urgency of his visit, according to sources, was intended to signal a grave threat to Israeli leadership, with one Egyptian source noting that President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi himself urged Kamel to deliver the warning personally.

Egypt continued to issue warnings to Israel up to two days before the October 7th massacre, according to American, Egyptian, and Israeli sources. Ironically, Kamel's arrival coincided with Israel's commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, a day when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about the dangers of underestimating enemies and ignoring intelligence signals.

The report also aligns with previous New York Times and Haaretz reports suggesting Netanyahu did not fully disclose a warning from UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed about a "major move" by Hamas leader Sinwar prior to the attack. Bin Zayed reportedly mentioned this conversation with Netanyahu to then-CIA Director William Burns, indicating he had warned Netanyahu about impending violence from Hamas in the West Bank or Gaza.

This new report surfaces amid conflicting claims. On October 10, 2023, shortly after the attack, an unnamed Egyptian intelligence official claimed Israel had been repeatedly warned about an "imminent event" in Gaza and ignored the threats. However, these claims were vehemently denied by Israel, with Prime Minister Netanyahu calling them "completely wrong."