Netanyahu Seeks UAE President's Help Denying Pre-War Hamas Warning Report

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met secretly with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, requesting that the Emirati leader deny reports claiming Netanyahu had warned him about an impending Hamas threat before the October 7th attacks. The controversy stems from a report alleging that bin Zayed spoke with Netanyahu about ten days prior to the assault, warning that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning a significant move that could destabilize the region. Netanyahu has denied this, stating no such conversation occurred and that he received no warning from bin Zayed about a planned Hamas attack. He also announced his intention to pursue legal action over the publication.

However, a separate report in The New York Times, citing an individual who spoke with bin Zayed and another briefed on the leaders' conversation, indicated that the UAE president did convey information to Netanyahu about Hamas considering a major offensive. Conversely, an Emirati official previously stated that security and intelligence matters with other countries are handled by relevant professional bodies, not at the leadership level.