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

A secret visit by Egypt's former intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, to Israel on September 26, 2023, just 11 days before the October 7 Hamas attacks, revealed that Cairo had warned Jerusalem of an imminent major assault. The visit, detailed in an extensive investigation by The Atlantic magazine, involved Kamel arriving on a chartered flight linked to Egyptian intelligence at Ben Gurion Airport and proceeding to a secure location for sensitive diplomatic and security matters. The flight remained in Israel for only 67 minutes before returning to Cairo, with its itinerary documented by Israeli airport authorities and independent flight tracking systems.

During his brief visit, Kamel reportedly warned Israeli officials, whose identities were not disclosed, that Hamas appeared to be preparing for a significant attack. He urged Israel to alter its policy towards Gaza, suggesting economic concessions to avert a confrontation. According to a former Israeli official briefed on the visit, Kamel conveyed that "Gaza would explode in Israel's face if it did not change its approach." However, the Egyptian warning did not specify a date, target, or method for the attack, nor did it provide intelligence about a large-scale operation like the one that ultimately occurred.

The report highlighted the exceptional nature of Kamel's visit, noting his trips to Israel are rare, with previous known visits in May and August 2021. Egypt reportedly continued to relay warnings to Israel in the days leading up to the attack, including two days prior.

These revelations follow recent Israeli reports about similar warnings received from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before October 7. Intelligence from the UAE allegedly informed Israel's Shin Bet security agency in September 2023 about the possibility of a "violent move" by Hamas. UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed also reportedly discussed the threat with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, Netanyahu's office denied receiving a warning from the UAE president, labeling such reports as false.

The repeated warnings from both Egypt and the UAE before the October 7 attacks are reigniting debate in Israel about how the country's political and security echelons handled intelligence and warnings, with questions about responsibility for the pre-attack intelligence failure persisting.