Egypt Warned Israel of Hamas Attack Weeks Before October 7

Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel visited Israel on September 26, 2023, less than two weeks before the October 7 Hamas attacks, The Atlantic reported Saturday. Citing sources from Egypt, Israel, the US, Europe, and Saudi Arabia, the report states Kamel delivered a stark warning to Israeli leadership: "If you don't change course, Gaza is about to blow up in your face."

The visit, which lasted about an hour, was intended as an urgent alert to the Israeli government. However, Kamel did not provide specific details about Hamas's plans, such as a precise date or tactical information, nor was it reported who exactly received the warning within Israel. A senior Israeli official familiar with the matter indicated that Kamel's visit itself was a significant message, stating, "There is no world in which senior Israelis meet with the Egyptian intelligence chief, and Netanyahu is not aware of it."

In response to the report, the Likud party issued a statement dismissing it as a "flood of false publications by mobilized left-wing journalists" aimed at undermining the right-wing government as elections approach. The party accused these journalists of spreading lies, citing previous false reports about the UAE and fabricated stories about Israeli actions. Likud asserted that the public is wise to these alleged deceptions.