Egyptian Intelligence Chief's Secret Israel Visit Before Hamas Attack Revealed

A secret visit by Egypt's intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, to Israel on September 26, 2023, just 11 days before the Hamas attacks, has been detailed by The Atlantic. Kamel arrived on a private Egyptian intelligence jet at Ben Gurion Airport and stayed for only 67 minutes. The purpose of the urgent visit was to deliver a warning that the situation in Gaza was nearing a critical point and that an escalation was imminent, according to the magazine.

An Egyptian official told The Atlantic that President Sisi considered the information of paramount importance, with Kamel reportedly telling his Israeli counterparts that Gaza was "about to explode" and urging them to make economic concessions to the enclave. However, the warning did not specify the nature of the threat, provide concrete details, or indicate the exact date of the impending attack.

It remains unclear who Kamel met with during his brief visit. Former Israeli intelligence officials suggested that a visit from someone of Kamel's stature should have served as a significant alarm. However, both National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi and the Prime Minister's office have denied that Kamel visited or delivered any warnings.

Despite the denials, Cairo reportedly continued to send signals to Israel until October 5, 2023. The Atlantic article states that the information received was ultimately disregarded by Israeli intelligence.

This revelation follows previous reports citing sources and official statements that Cairo had repeatedly warned Israel about preparations for a "large-scale event" in Gaza. The Prime Minister's office has consistently refuted these claims. Additionally, a recent excerpt from a book suggested that the UAE President, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, had also warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about a planned Hamas attack the week before October 7, a claim also denied by the Prime Minister's office.