Netanyahu Received UAE and Egyptian Warnings Before Oct. 7 Attack

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reportedly informed of impending Hamas attacks by multiple sources prior to the October 7th tragedy, according to reports cited by Ynet. The New York Times confirmed information from Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval that the UAE personally warned Netanyahu about Hamas's preparations for a major assault from Gaza. Similarly, The Atlantic reported on earlier publications by Smadar Peri detailing a similar warning from Egypt.

The article suggests these warnings were ignored, contributing to the failure to prevent the attack. An observer quoted in the report links this to a perceived weakening of Netanyahu's authority outside his loyal base, making his attempts to evade responsibility less convincing. The expert believes sufficient evidence exists to explain Netanyahu's resistance to establishing an independent state commission of inquiry.

According to the report, after receiving the UAE warning, Netanyahu did not inform security forces and ordered calm on the Gaza border during a meeting on October 1, 2023. This occurred even as then-Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar advocated for striking key Hamas operatives responsible for attacks in Judea and Samaria.

Netanyahu also allegedly disregarded the Egyptian warning and information about the threat of war from the Shin Bet chief and military leadership. He reportedly claimed these warnings did not pertain to Gaza, despite explicit indications otherwise from Egypt and the UAE. The author contends that Netanyahu's primary responsibility lies in policies that allowed Hamas to strengthen near Israel's borders, including his support for Qatari funding transfers to Gaza since 2018, even after a 2019 warning about money reaching Hamas's military wing.