Egyptian Intelligence Chief Warned Netanyahu of Imminent Gaza Attack Before Oct. 7

Egypt's then-intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, contacted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu days before the October 7th Hamas attack to deliver a third warning about an ongoing assault from Gaza, according to Arab sources cited by The Wall Street Journal. Cairo had reportedly issued similar warnings in June and September 2023, to which Israeli officials responded that the situation was under control. Netanyahu also received a similar warning from UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed in September.

These revelations have reignited questions about Netanyahu's responsibility ahead of the upcoming October 27th elections. A poll by the Israel Democracy Institute indicates that 68% of Israelis view the October 7th events as a primary factor in their voting decisions. Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot has sharply criticized Netanyahu, accusing him of leading the country irresponsibly into its greatest disaster.

The Prime Minister's office did not respond to the newspaper's inquiries regarding the conversation with Kamel. Netanyahu has previously denied speaking with the Egyptian intelligence chief in the months preceding the attack, as well as receiving a personal warning from the UAE president. Netanyahu has blamed security officials for withholding critical information, claims rejected by the security establishment.

The report also noted that officials from the United Arab Emirates had expressed growing concern about Hamas, sharing intelligence assessments with the US. Arab sources indicated a shift in the tone and threats from Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, and noted frequent meetings between Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza.

Intelligence and operational failures extended beyond the political level, with the Shin Bet reportedly lacking human sources in Gaza, the military ignoring observations from lookout soldiers reporting unusual training, and Hamas's invasion plan being dismissed as unrealistic. Intelligence experts suggest that while the warnings might not have altered the outcome due to a widespread belief that Hamas was deterred, they highlight the depth of the pre-war failures.