Netanyahu Sues Israeli Media Over Pre-Oct. 7 Warning Reports

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu filed defamation lawsuits on Tuesday against several Israeli media outlets, including Haaretz, Channel 12 News, and Ynet, over reports claiming he received a warning before the October 7th Hamas attacks. Netanyahu asserted in a statement that the reports are a "complete lie," denying that either the UAE or Egypt conveyed such a warning. He suggested the timing of these "lies" just before elections by "political opponents and hostile foreign elements" aims to topple his right-wing government.

The most prominent report, published by Haaretz, alleged that in late September 2023, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu of an imminent plan by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to harm Israel. According to the report, bin Zayed urged Netanyahu to take the threat seriously, but the Prime Minister reportedly responded with relative calm and did not brief security chiefs. The report also stated that bin Zayed was surprised by Netanyahu's subdued reaction.

Following the report's publication, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying, "We do not comment on media stories or speculation about conversations between government leaders." The statement emphasized the UAE's ongoing efforts since October 7th to de-escalate, achieve regional stability, and prevent violence. It also confirmed that communication channels between UAE and Israeli government representatives have remained open since the normalization of relations, with relevant intelligence being shared when necessary.