Netanyahu Holds Secret Meeting in Abu Dhabi Amid Warning Revelations

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a secret meeting in Abu Dhabi on Sunday with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ), who reportedly warned Netanyahu of a major Hamas attack before October 7. The visit, first reported by Channel 12, saw Netanyahu fly to the UAE capital and return to Israel the same day. The meeting is seen as a gesture from the UAE and likely addressed the reported prior warnings about Hamas's intentions.

The leaders also discussed the Iranian threat and efforts to form a coalition against Iran, with Abu Dhabi maintaining a firm stance against Tehran, including suspending trade and banning Iranian flights. The UAE's support for Israel has been evident since the war began, including its unusual provision of a temporary Iron Dome system with Israeli operators. The UAE was also one of only two Arab nations to keep representatives at the UN during Netanyahu's speech, alongside Bahrain.

This visit follows a previous secret trip by Netanyahu to Abu Dhabi during Operation "Iron Swords." The meeting comes amid renewed focus on intelligence failures preceding the October 7th attack, particularly reports from The New York Times and other sources suggesting MBZ warned Netanyahu in late September 2023 about a large-scale Hamas offensive. These reports claim Netanyahu did not relay the warning to security chiefs, and it was absent from a security discussion on October 1st.

Further details emerged from Palestinian politician Sufian Abu Zaida, who claims Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar dictated a message to him 22 days before October 7th, warning of an "earthquake" in negotiations and the need for Israel to prepare for a "emptying of prisons." This message, written down by Abu Zaida, was reportedly conveyed to Israel through back channels. Another report suggests that Egyptian officials also warned Netanyahu of an "imminent something" days before the attack.