Egypt, UAE Warned Netanyahu of Hamas Attack Before Oct. 7

New reports suggest that Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel delivered a stark warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about an impending Hamas attack, stating "Gaza will blow up in your face." This warning, conveyed via a private Egyptian intelligence jet that landed at Ben Gurion Airport on September 26, 2023, was reportedly not shared with the IDF or Shin Bet. Separately, the United Arab Emirates' President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, also warned Netanyahu of a significant Hamas offensive around the same period, according to a "New York Times" report.

The source of these warnings is believed to be former Palestinian Authority minister Sufian Abu Zeida, who claims he relayed messages directly from Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Abu Zeida stated in an Egyptian TV interview that Sinwar dictated the messages word-for-word. The context for these communications included growing Hamas concerns over Israeli government actions, such as harsher conditions for security prisoners and perceived changes to the status quo at the Temple Mount, as well as fears that Saudi Arabia's normalization talks with Israel would sideline the Palestinian issue.

Sinwar, reportedly worried about the Saudi-Israeli progress, allegedly demanded the release of dozens of prisoners in exchange for quiet. When this demand was not clearly addressed by Israel, he issued the "earthquake" warning approximately a month before October 7. The "Atlantic" magazine's report, corroborated by the "New York Times," details these warnings and the alleged Israeli indifference.

The Prime Minister's Office has issued a sweeping denial of these reports. However, the "New York Times" claims to possess minutes from a security discussion on October 1, 2023, after both warnings were received, which do not mention them. The report suggests that Netanyahu opposed striking Hamas leaders, preferring to maintain quiet in Gaza to advance the Saudi track.

If a state inquiry committee investigates these claims, it could present a narrative contrary to Netanyahu's "I wasn't warned" stance, potentially indicating that he, by not relaying the intelligence, failed to act on the warnings. The article criticizes the reporting as propaganda, calling for a state commission of inquiry to uncover the truth.