Egypt Warned Israel of Gaza 'Explosion' Days Before Oct. 7 Attack

Egypt's intelligence chief visited Israel 11 days before the October 7th Hamas attack and warned of a significant escalation in Gaza, according to a new report by The Atlantic. Abbas Kamel reportedly met with Israeli officials on September 26, 2023, conveying that Hamas was preparing for a major offensive and that the window to prevent such an event was closing. Israeli sources speaking to the magazine stated that Kamel recommended Israel offer economic concessions to Hamas to de-escalate tensions, warning that if Israel did not change its policy toward Gaza, "Gaza will explode in your face."

The Egyptian intelligence chief's visit was brief, with his plane reportedly staying in Israel for only 67 minutes before returning to Cairo. The report notes that Kamel did not provide a specific date, target, or operational details that could have pinpointed the impending attack, nor is it clear exactly who he delivered the message to within Israel.

According to the report, Kamel's warning was not the only one received from Egypt. Following his visit, Egyptian officials continued to relay concerns about the situation in Gaza. On October 5th, just two days before the attack, Egypt sent another message to Israel about the possibility of an escalation in the Strip. Jordan also conveyed similar messages, according to Arab sources.

Meanwhile, the United States also detected signs of deterioration. The CIA reportedly circulated an assessment on September 28th suggesting Hamas might conduct an operation involving rocket fire into Israel. A further assessment was circulated on October 5th, but neither predicted the full-scale attack that occurred on October 7th.