Trump Doubts Netanyahu Was Warned of 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 Hamas attack on October 7. Trump suggested that if Netanyahu had known, he would have acted.

This comes amid reports that Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel visited Israel on September 26, eleven days before the attack, to warn of a broad Hamas offensive. Additionally, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed reportedly spoke directly with Netanyahu days before the attack to ensure an Emirati intelligence warning about Hamas's intentions was received in Jerusalem. The Prime Minister's office has vehemently denied these reports, calling them false.

The interview also revealed a strained relationship between Trump and Netanyahu. A senior U.S. administration official described their relationship as having become "more murky" in recent months. The official noted that Netanyahu had pushed Trump for direct military confrontation with Iran but has since created difficulties for Trump's efforts to end the war. Netanyahu reportedly acted against Washington's position, including by ordering strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after Trump explicitly asked him not to.

Regarding the upcoming Israeli elections, Trump refrained from endorsing Netanyahu. When asked about the possibility of working better with Netanyahu's 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."