Netanyahu Met UAE President to Deny Hamas Attack Warning Report

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret flight to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday to meet with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The primary purpose of the meeting, according to Channel 12, was to request that the UAE president deny a previous report by the newspaper Haaretz. Haaretz claimed that bin Zayed had issued an early warning to Netanyahu about the impending Hamas attack before the events of October 7, 2023, as reported by the Associated Press.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on the meeting itself but affirmed its commitment to maintaining direct communication and intelligence sharing with Israel. Netanyahu's office provided no immediate response.

The secret visit lasted approximately six hours. The meeting was intended to remain undisclosed, with plans for a joint announcement with the UAE to be released only after the Israeli delegation's return. However, the early public disclosure of the trip altered these plans. The UAE has not yet issued any statement regarding the meeting.

Accompanying Netanyahu were Mossad chief Roman Gofman, National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, a senior official from the Shin Bet's VIP protection unit, and other senior officials from the Prime Minister's Office. Netanyahu traveled to Abu Dhabi on a private jet previously used for trips by Mossad officials and the Prime Minister himself to the UAE.