Egyptian Intelligence Chief Secretly Warned Israel of Hamas Attack 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 Hamas was preparing for a major assault, according to an extensive investigation by The Atlantic magazine. Kamel reportedly arrived on a chartered flight linked to Egyptian intelligence at Ben Gurion Airport and proceeded 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 the clandestine meeting, the purpose of which was to deliver an urgent warning about the situation in Gaza, Kamel urged Israel to alter its policies toward the Strip and offer economic concessions to prevent an escalation. Sources familiar with the visit stated that Kamel conveyed that Gaza would "explode" if Israel did not change its approach. However, the Egyptian warning did not specify a date, target, or method for a potential attack, nor did it provide details of a large-scale operation like the one that occurred on October 7.

The report highlights that Kamel's visit was unusual, as his trips to Israel are rare, with his last known visits occurring 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.

This revelation follows recent Israeli reports about warnings received from the UAE before October 7. These reports suggested that UAE intelligence informed Israel's Shin Bet security agency in September 2023 about the possibility of a "violent move" by Hamas, and that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed had discussed the threat with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu's office has denied receiving such warnings, calling the reports false.

These accounts shed light on the series of intelligence and warnings that preceded the October 7 attacks and how Israeli political and security levels handled them, amidst ongoing debate in Israel regarding responsibility for the intelligence failure.