Egypt Warned Netanyahu of Imminent Gaza Attack Days Before Oct. 7

Former Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel contacted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu days before the October 7th Hamas attack, warning of an imminent assault from the Gaza Strip, according to Arab government officials cited by the Wall Street Journal. This call was reportedly preceded by at least two other warnings from Egypt to Israel in the months leading up to the massacre.

The first warning, in June 2023, was general and addressed the volatile situation in Gaza. By September, Egypt's message intensified, with Kamel visiting Israel to caution that the situation could significantly deteriorate. Israeli officials reportedly responded that the situation was under control, but Cairo's concern grew.

According to the report, Kamel contacted Netanyahu directly again in early October with another warning. Sources familiar with the matter claim that Egyptian officials continued to alert Israel up to approximately 48 hours before the Hamas attack, though these warnings lacked specific details regarding the timing, targets, or scale of the assault.

The report also suggests that Egypt was not the sole Arab nation to convey such concerns. UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed reportedly spoke with Netanyahu in September 2023, presenting indications that Hamas was preparing for an attack. The sources cited by the Journal indicated that Netanyahu did not appear convinced by the information presented.

Concurrently, intelligence services in Arab countries reportedly observed a shift in the tone of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and an increase in meetings between Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives in the period preceding the attack.