New Reports Detail Warnings Before Oct. 7, Netanyahu Slams 'Lies'

Two major U.S. media outlets have published new details regarding warnings received before the October 7th Hamas attacks. The New York Times reported on a conversation between UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to the report, bin Zayed mentioned to the CIA chief a conversation with Netanyahu about Hamas planning a major attack, a conversation Netanyahu allegedly never mentioned in a security briefing on October 1st, where he reportedly opposed striking Hamas leaders.

Additionally, an extensive investigation by The Atlantic magazine revealed that Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel secretly landed at Ben Gurion Airport 11 days before the attack, staying for just 67 minutes. During his visit, he reportedly warned that Hamas was preparing for a large-scale assault and urged Israel to implement economic concessions to prevent escalation. Egyptian officials continued to issue warnings up to two days before the massacre, as previously reported by Smadar Peri for Ynet.

Prime Minister Netanyahu vehemently rejected these reports, calling them "lies" and stating the public would not believe them. His Likud party issued a statement asserting that despite UAE denials and the Prime Minister's office confirming no such conversation took place, the "anti-Zionist" New York Times continues to spread falsehoods, citing previous fabricated stories about Israel. The party also dismissed the Atlantic report as a "false claim" that had already been denied, pointing to an official Egyptian denial on October 11, 2023, and stating Netanyahu had no contact with Kamel prior to the attack.

In contrast, Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, stated that the "body of facts" emerging, including over the weekend, about warnings from security officials and foreign entities leaves "no room for doubt." He accused Netanyahu of leading Israel into its "greatest disaster" with "blindness, complacency, and irresponsibility." Eisenkot criticized attempts to evade responsibility and manipulate public perception, asserting that the accumulating evidence proves Netanyahu "clearly and unequivocally betrayed the public's trust and his role." He concluded that Netanyahu and his cabinet, who have not taken responsibility, lack the qualifications to lead Israel's recovery and that citizens will elect a responsible government next month to establish a state commission of inquiry.