Egypt Warned Netanyahu of Impending Hamas Attack, WSJ Reports

Egypt's intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, issued multiple warnings to Israel about an impending attack from Gaza, including a call to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shortly before the Hamas assault on October 7, 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources. This call was reportedly at least the third warning from Egypt regarding the deteriorating situation in Gaza. Egyptian officials first conveyed concerns in June 2023, highlighting instability and recommending renewed negotiations with Hamas over hostages. Kamel personally visited Israel in September, allegedly warning Israeli officials of severe consequences stemming from the Gaza situation, though specific details on the timing or scale of an attack were not provided. Israeli representatives reportedly assured Kamel that the situation was under control. Despite this, Egyptian authorities continued to issue warnings, with the final alert allegedly arriving approximately 48 hours before the attack. Netanyahu had previously denied speaking with the Egyptian intelligence chief for months prior to October 7. The WSJ report also mentions a September 2023 call from UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Netanyahu, reportedly conveying signs of Hamas's preparations for an attack. However, the Journal emphasized that none of the warnings received by Israel included precise information about the attack's timing or scale. Offices of Netanyahu, Egypt, and the UAE declined to comment on the report.