Egypt Warned Netanyahu of Gaza Attack Before October 7, Report Says

Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel reportedly contacted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu three times in the months leading up to the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, with the final call occurring just days before the massacre, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing Arab officials. The initial warnings, starting as early as June 2023, were described as vague, with Egypt cautioning that the situation in Gaza was "explosive" and urging a return to negotiations with Hamas.

In September, Kamel traveled to Israel to deliver a more serious warning, stating the situation in Gaza could "explode in everyone's face." However, Israeli officials reportedly dismissed these concerns, asserting that the situation was under control. The final call from Kamel to Netanyahu's office, just days before the attack, indicated growing concern from Cairo.

These revelations come amid ongoing political debate in Israel regarding whether Netanyahu received sufficient warnings before the unprecedented assault, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 abductions. The report also suggests Netanyahu was informed of Hamas attack indications during a September meeting with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, but appeared unconvinced.

Netanyahu's office did not respond to the Wall Street Journal's inquiries regarding Kamel's calls. Previously, his office had denied any such conversations took place in the months preceding October 7. The foreign ministries of Egypt and the UAE also did not comment.

Arab officials also noted a shift in the tone and threats from Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, and intelligence services observed frequent meetings between Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza. These concerns were shared with the United States.