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

A report by The Atlantic reveals that Egypt's former intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, visited Israel on September 26, 2023, just 11 days before the Hamas attack, to deliver a stark warning about an impending large-scale assault. According to a former Israeli official briefed on the visit, Kamel stated, "If you don't change direction, Gaza is about to explode in your face." However, Kamel did not provide a specific date or detailed intelligence regarding the attack, and it remains unclear with whom he met. The Egyptian aircraft reportedly stayed on the ground in Israel for only 67 minutes before returning to Cairo.

This visit occurred just two hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at an event in Jerusalem commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, where he stated, "We do not underestimate any threat." The publication follows previous reports, including one in Haaretz citing the UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed warning Netanyahu about a Hamas attack, and a New York Times report alleging Netanyahu received this warning but did not disclose it in a security briefing on October 1, 2023.

An Egyptian intelligence source had previously told the Associated Press on October 9, 2023, that Israel had been warned by Egypt about "something big" approximately ten days before the surprise attack, but that Israel had focused on the West Bank and underestimated the threat from Gaza. Netanyahu's office has vehemently denied these claims, calling the report "completely false" and a recycled attempt to manipulate the Israeli public. They reiterated that Egypt officially denied warning Israel on October 11, 2023, and stated that Netanyahu never met or spoke with Kamel prior to the events, nor did any Israeli intelligence convey such a warning to him.

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of "Yisrael," criticized Netanyahu, stating that the accumulated facts about warnings from foreign countries and security officials leave no room for doubt that Netanyahu "blindly, arrogantly, and irresponsibly led the State of Israel to the greatest disaster in its history." He accused Netanyahu of systematically evading responsibility and attempting to manipulate public consciousness, asserting that Netanyahu "clearly and unequivocally abused the public's trust and his role." Eisenkot added that Netanyahu and cabinet members who have not taken responsibility for October 7 lack the qualifications to lead Israel's recovery.