Netanyahu's Secret UAE Visit Linked to Pre-Oct. 7 Warnings

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an unannounced visit to Abu Dhabi on Sunday, September 27, reportedly holding closed-door talks with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed. The trip, conducted on a private jet, was kept secret, with Netanyahu's office refusing to comment on the agenda or details of the discussions. The visit gained attention due to reports suggesting the UAE had attempted to warn Israel about an impending threat shortly before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.

These reports, citing Israeli media outlets like N12, indicate that the UAE conveyed crucial warnings to Israeli leadership. This aligns with previous publications, including those in The New York Times, which corroborated information about Israel receiving warnings of a large-scale Hamas attack from Gaza prior to October 7. Specifically, a message from the UAE, allegedly delivered directly to Netanyahu, was mentioned by journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval.

An analysis in Ynet connects this narrative to a perceived weakening of Netanyahu's influence and his efforts to avoid responsibility for the security failures of October 7. The author suggests that Netanyahu's alleged failure to act on warnings from the UAE and Egypt, and his decision not to inform security agencies about them, points to significant miscalculations. It is claimed that on October 1, 2023, during a security meeting, Netanyahu did not disclose the UAE warning and instead urged calm along the Gaza border, despite then-Shin Bet head Ronen Bar advocating for strikes against Hamas operatives.

Further claims suggest that while Egypt also issued warnings and the head of the Shin Bet and military command signaled the possibility of war, Netanyahu insisted these messages did not pertain to a Gaza threat. The article asserts that Netanyahu did not relay these warnings to security chiefs, although his supporters have accused Ronen Bar and former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi of withholding information from the Prime Minister. The author attributes broader responsibility to Netanyahu's long-term policy regarding Gaza, including the facilitation of Qatari funds to the Strip since 2018, despite concerns that some funds might reach Hamas's military wing.