Egyptian Intelligence Chief Warned Netanyahu of Impending Hamas Attack Before Oct. 7

Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel reportedly warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of an imminent attack from Gaza in early October 2023, according to Egyptian official sources cited by the Wall Street Journal. This call allegedly followed Israel's failure to heed two prior Egyptian warnings about indicators of an impending attack from the Gaza Strip. Neither Netanyahu's office nor the Egyptian Foreign Ministry commented on the report.

Further details emerged from The Atlantic, which reported that Kamel traveled to Israel on a private plane approximately 11 days before the October 7 Hamas attack. He conveyed a warning that Hamas was preparing for a major assault, based on information from Israeli, Egyptian, Arab, American, and European sources who later reviewed the Egyptian warning. Kamel reportedly landed at Ben Gurion Airport on September 26, 2023, and stayed for an hour. While his specific Israeli contacts were not disclosed, he emphasized the possibility of preventing such an attack and advised Israel to grant economic concessions to Hamas to avert it. He also cautioned that if Israel did not alter its policies, "Gaza will explode in your face."

Israel Hayom had previously reported on the Egyptian plane's landing in Israel, though the identity of the Egyptian official was unclear at the time. Following this, Netanyahu participated in security discussions and approved several economic facilitations for Gaza. An Israeli official suggested that Kamel's personal visit underscored the urgency of the matter, stating that the intelligence chief's presence alone was a significant message, and it was inconceivable that he would meet Israeli officials without Netanyahu's knowledge.

Separately, The New York Times reported this week that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed also conveyed a warning to Netanyahu about a Hamas attack prior to October 7. Netanyahu, however, denied this report following its publication in Haaretz. The New York Times also cited minutes from a meeting Netanyahu held in early October 2023, where he reportedly told security officials that any Israeli military operation in Gaza would jeopardize potential Saudi-Israeli diplomatic relations, which he believed were close to being established.