Netanyahu Urged UAE President to Deny Pre-Oct. 7 Warning Reports

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly met secretly with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, urging him to officially deny reports that he had warned Netanyahu of an impending Hamas attack before October 7. The meeting, which lasted about six hours, was confirmed by Israeli Channel 12 news. According to an AP report citing a source with firsthand knowledge, Netanyahu made the plea during the clandestine visit. The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered a vague response, stating Abu Dhabi maintains open communication with Israel and shares relevant intelligence, while the official UAE news agency ignored the visit entirely.

This development follows a series of reports from major American media outlets over the weekend that have scrutinized the period leading up to the October 7th Hamas attack. The New York Times revealed details of a conversation where bin Zayed allegedly warned Netanyahu about Hamas's plans, yet Netanyahu did not mention this warning in a sensitive security discussion on October 1st. Furthermore, Netanyahu reportedly opposed a preemptive strike proposal against Hamas leaders during that meeting.

Simultaneously, The Wall Street Journal reported, based on Arab government sources, that Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel personally called Netanyahu in early October expressing deep concern about an imminent attack from Gaza. This call allegedly followed two prior Egyptian warnings that were not adequately addressed by Israel. The Atlantic magazine also published a report detailing a brief, secret visit by Kamel to Ben Gurion Airport just 11 days before the war, during which he warned of a major Hamas attack and urged Israeli officials to implement economic concessions for Gaza to prevent escalation.

Netanyahu's office has previously denied reports of conversations with Kamel in the months before October 7th. Neither the Egyptian nor the UAE foreign ministries have responded to inquiries regarding these reports. The UAE has previously stated that security matters are discussed through relevant bodies, not directly between heads of state, in an apparent effort to distance itself from Israeli political disputes. Arab sources noted that the warnings did not include specific details on the timing or scope of the potential attack. Netanyahu continues to vehemently deny receiving any prior warning about the attack that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken to Gaza.