Egyptian Intelligence Chief Warned Israel of Imminent Hamas Attack Before Oct. 7

The former head of Egyptian intelligence, Abbas Kamel, made a secret visit to Israel 11 days before the October 7th Hamas attack, according to a report by The Atlantic. Kamel reportedly warned that Hamas was preparing for a major offensive and that time was running out to prevent escalation.

The report, based on interviews with dozens of Israeli, Egyptian, Arab, American, and European officials, details that Kamel arrived at Ben Gurion Airport on September 26, 2023, on a chartered Cessna linked to Egyptian intelligence. The plane remained in Israel for just 67 minutes before returning to Cairo. Flight logs and independent tracking systems reportedly confirmed the visit.

While the article does not specify who Kamel met with, sources from seven countries told The Atlantic that his visit aimed to deliver an urgent warning about the situation in Gaza. Kamel allegedly indicated that Hamas appeared to be organizing for a large-scale attack and suggested Israel offer economic concessions to the organization to try and avert conflict.

One former Israeli official briefed on the visit described Kamel's message as, "Gaza will explode in your face." However, The Atlantic emphasizes that Kamel did not provide a specific date, target, or method for the anticipated attack, nor did he present a picture of the large-scale infiltration that ultimately occurred on October 7th.