Netanyahu Accused of Ignoring Warnings Before Oct. 7, Critics Face Lawsuits

Recent reports from "The Wall Street Journal" and "The Atlantic" allege that Egyptian General Intelligence chief Abbas Kamel secretly visited Israel 11 days before the October 7th Hamas attack and spoke twice with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to warn of a large-scale assault from Gaza. While Kamel did not provide specific details like dates or targets, the reports have been embraced by critics, including an "Haaretz" article claiming UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed also conveyed a similar warning to Netanyahu about Yahya Sinwar's plans. Netanyahu has denied these claims, which his opponents are reportedly using to tarnish his image as elections approach. The article counters that the intelligence failures lay with the IDF and Shin Bet leadership, who allegedly did not foresee the attack nor immediately inform the Prime Minister when it began. In response to these accusations, Netanyahu has filed lawsuits against "Haaretz," "Yedioth Ahronoth," and Channel 12, as well as journalists Shlomi Eldar, Uri Misgav, Nadav Eyal, Barak Ravid, and Attila Somfalvi. The piece also references Donald Trump's statement to "TIME" magazine that he does not believe Netanyahu was warned by the Emirates or Egypt, and that he has heard nothing negative about Gadi Eisenkot. The article further criticizes the notion that Hamas was deterred, suggesting the real danger lies in the West Bank, where Palestinian Authority security forces have allegedly amassed a large armed force. The author points to Telegram posts from "Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades" and statements from Fatah officials celebrating the October 7th attacks as evidence of the ongoing threat from the West Bank, contrasting this with the focus on "Jewish terrorism" by Netanyahu's critics.