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

Abbas Kamel, the former head of Egyptian intelligence, reportedly made a secret visit to Israel less than two weeks before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks to deliver a warning about the situation in Gaza and Hamas's preparations, according to an investigation by The Atlantic, which was cited by several Israeli media outlets. The investigation, based on testimonies from officials in seven countries, suggests that an Egyptian plane landed on September 26, 2023, in a secluded area of Ben Gurion Airport and remained on the ground for only 67 minutes. Kamel allegedly met with Israeli officials to directly convey Cairo's concerns, reportedly warning them that without a policy change, "Gaza will blow up in your face." However, he did not provide a specific date for an attack.

According to the investigation, Cairo had recommended immediate economic measures for Gaza, believing the window to avoid escalation was closing. A former Israeli official interviewed for the investigation considered the personal visit of the Egyptian intelligence chief to be an unusually strong signal in itself. This warning adds to ongoing questions about the information available to Israeli authorities prior to October 7 and how it was interpreted by various security and political echelons.