Biden Envoy Denies U.S. Received Hamas Attack Warnings
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Brett McGurk, a senior advisor to President Biden, stated that the U.S. received no prior warnings about the October 7 Hamas attack. He confirmed this after checking with regional colleagues, including former Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel. McGurk's statements come amid previous denials from other officials and during a period of tense U.S.-Israel relations.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- U.S. received no prior warnings of October 7 Hamas attack, says Brett McGurk.
- McGurk confirmed this after checking with senior regional colleagues.
- He specifically consulted with former Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.
- Statements align with previous denials from other officials.
- Context includes tense U.S.-Israel relations and an arms embargo.
Brett McGurk, a senior advisor to President Biden on Middle East affairs, stated in a CBS interview that the United States did not receive any prior warnings or indications of Hamas's impending attack on October 7. McGurk, who served as the Biden administration's envoy to the Middle East, asserted that no information suggesting the approaching assault was present within the American system.
McGurk initially said he had not heard of any such warning communications. He later elaborated that he had checked the matter with senior colleagues in the region, including those he worked closely with, and confirmed that even after these inquiries, he was unaware of any warnings conveyed to Washington before October 7.
An Israeli reporter, Sharih Harush, noted the significance of McGurk's statements, particularly concerning UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed. McGurk described how bin Zayed, when concerned about a major issue, contacts multiple individuals, including the White House. Harush suggested that if a significant warning had come from a leader like bin Zayed, it would be unlikely to have escaped the White House's notice or McGurk's awareness.
Harush also pointed out that McGurk's verification extended to consulting with figures like former Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, with whom McGurk had a close working relationship. McGurk's book reportedly details their frequent meetings and Kamel's intense pressure during decision-making processes.
These remarks align with previous denials from other officials, including Israeli President Isaac Herzog and former U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, regarding prior warnings. Harush emphasized the weight of McGurk's testimony due to his proximity to President Biden and the context of strained U.S.-Israel relations at the time, which included a limited arms embargo on Israel.
Mentioned
