Trump Doubts Netanyahu Was Warned Before October 7 Attack

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated in an interview with TIME magazine that he does not believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was warned by Egypt or the UAE about the impending Hamas attack on October 7. Trump suggested that if Netanyahu had known, he would have acted.

This statement comes amid reports suggesting that Egyptian and Emirati leaders had indeed conveyed intelligence warnings to Netanyahu prior to the attack. Specifically, it was reported that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed spoke directly with Netanyahu to ensure an Emirati intelligence alert about Hamas's intentions was received in Jerusalem. Additionally, a report in The Atlantic detailed a secret visit by Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel to Israel on September 26, where he allegedly warned of a large-scale Hamas offensive, with further Egyptian warnings reportedly delivered just before the attack.

The Prime Minister's Office has vehemently denied these reports, labeling them as false.

The interview also touched upon the strained relationship between Trump and Netanyahu. A senior U.S. administration official described their relationship as having become "more sour" in recent months. According to U.S. officials, Netanyahu had pushed Trump for direct military confrontation with Iran but has since complicated the president's efforts to de-escalate the war. These officials noted that Netanyahu acted against Washington's position, including by ordering strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after Trump explicitly asked him not to.

Trump also avoided endorsing Netanyahu for re-election in the upcoming Israeli elections. When asked about the possibility of working better with Netanyahu's main rival, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, Trump did not rule out the idea, stating, "Well, I don't know, but I don't hear bad things about him."