Netanyahu Received Hamas Attack Warning, Ignored It, Report Claims

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly received a clear warning from the leader of the United Arab Emirates about Hamas's preparations for an invasion of Israel, but did not relay this information to security officials. The news portal Ynet reported that Netanyahu responded to UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed by stating the situation was under control. Several possible explanations for this inaction are being considered. One possibility is that Netanyahu did not attach significant importance to the warning. However, this is deemed unlikely given that he had previously received a similar signal in a private conversation with then-Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. The warning from the Arab leader, described as an "earthquake" expected from Gaza, was reportedly not treated as mere chatter.

Another theory suggests Netanyahu considered the warning crucial but deliberately withheld it from security forces. This version is also considered improbable, with the article noting that conspiracy theories circulating abroad suggest the prime minister was interested in the war, though the authors believe no one desired its outbreak. The most plausible explanation, according to the report, is that the Prime Minister simply failed to give the warning adequate attention. He did not share it, initiate a separate assessment, or organize a discussion about it. Instead, in the lead-up to the October 7th tragedy, Netanyahu instructed that calm be maintained in Gaza.

Analysts suggest this approach aligned with his perception of Hamas as restrained terrorists and his desire to preserve conditions for normalization with Saudi Arabia. The authors also acknowledge that mistakes can occur even with diligent efforts by politicians and military personnel. They argue that if decisions were made professionally and without malicious intent, punishing the mere fact of an error could lead to future avoidance of responsibility and complex decision-making. The core question remains whether negligence occurred, meaning whether the politician or military acted with the necessary caution. Previously, three Israeli sources involved in key closed-door security meetings before October 7th reacted for the first time to reports that Netanyahu had received the warning from UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed.