Netanyahu Asked UAE President to Deny Warning Before Oct. 7 Attack

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly asked UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to deny that he had received a personal warning about a potential Hamas attack before October 7. The request was made during a secret meeting between the two leaders, which was first revealed by Israel's Channel 12 News. The meeting, which lasted about four hours, took place during a clandestine visit by Netanyahu to the UAE.

According to an AP report citing a source familiar with the details, the conversation focused on a prior Haaretz newspaper report. This report alleged that the UAE president had personally warned Netanyahu about Hamas's intentions to launch a significant attack against Israel. The source told AP that Netanyahu specifically requested bin Zayed to refute this claim.

Netanyahu's office did not provide a comment to AP regarding the report. Channel 12 News learned that Netanyahu and his entourage traveled on multiple private planes for the secret visit, which was largely a one-on-one discussion. This visit occurred just a month before elections and two days after Netanyahu's return from the UN General Assembly in New York.

The Haaretz report, published earlier in September, detailed a 45-minute phone call where bin Zayed allegedly warned Netanyahu that Yahya Sinwar, Hamas's leader in Gaza, was planning a major offensive. The report suggested bin Zayed expressed concerns that such an event could lead to bloodshed, destabilize the region, and harm the Abraham Accords. Despite the alleged warning, Netanyahu reportedly reacted with relative calm.

Notably, no Emirati official has officially denied the conversation, and some sources have even confirmed it. This is not the first time a secret visit by Netanyahu to the UAE has generated attention; a previous visit in May during the "Operation Iron Swords" was announced by Netanyahu's office, described as a "historic breakthrough," but its premature disclosure reportedly caused tension with Abu Dhabi.