Netanyahu Denies Receiving Hamas Attack Warning From Egyptian Intelligence Chief

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has vehemently denied reports that he received a direct warning from former Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel about an impending Hamas attack prior to October 7, 2023. A Wall Street Journal report cited Arab officials claiming Kamel contacted Netanyahu in early October, warning of a potential attack from Gaza following earlier Egyptian alerts about the deteriorating situation there. These warnings, however, reportedly lacked specific dates or operational details, only indicating that Gaza was heading towards an 'explosion.' The Israeli response at the time, according to the report, was that the situation in Gaza was 'under complete control.'

Further details from the Wall Street Journal report suggest a series of Egyptian warnings. In June 2023, a general warning about Gaza's fragile state was reportedly sent to Israel, urging a resumption of negotiations with Hamas. In September, Kamel visited Israel, conveying a warning that the situation in Gaza was dangerous and could 'explode in everyone's face.' Israeli officials reportedly maintained that the situation was under control.

Netanyahu's office issued a strong rebuttal, calling the claims "previously denied" and accusing those raising them of misleading the Israeli public. They asserted that Egypt officially denied warning Israel about the October 7 attack on October 11, 2023, and that Netanyahu had neither met nor spoken with Kamel in the months leading up to the attack. The Prime Minister's office also denied that any Israeli intelligence official had relayed an Egyptian warning of an imminent attack to Netanyahu.

The Wall Street Journal report follows other media accounts raising questions about warnings Israel may have received before the attack. The Atlantic previously reported on a 67-minute visit by Kamel to Israel about two weeks before the attack, aimed at warning of a potential major Hamas offensive. Other reports have mentioned a warning from UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed to Netanyahu, which the Prime Minister also denied. Additionally, a message from Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, conveyed through Fatah leader Soufian Abu Zaida, reportedly warned of an 'earthquake' concerning prisoners and missing persons, which was initially interpreted in the context of other intelligence at the time. Discrepancies remain between media reports and official Israeli and Egyptian accounts regarding the nature, recipients, and interpretation of pre-attack warnings.