Netanyahu Confirms Secret Visit, Denies Meeting Egyptian Intelligence Chief
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed a secret visit to Israel by former Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel before the October 7th attack, but denied meeting him. Netanyahu stated he was at a memorial ceremony for fallen soldiers on the day of the visit. Reports suggest Kamel arrived on September 26, 2023, to warn of an impending Hamas attack, though his meetings remain unconfirmed.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed a secret visit by former Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.
- Netanyahu stated he did not meet with Kamel during the September 26, 2023, visit.
- The Prime Minister was attending a memorial ceremony for fallen IDF soldiers on that day.
- Kamel reportedly visited to warn of Hamas preparations for a significant attack.
- An Egyptian plane landed at Ben Gurion Airport for only 67 minutes.
- The "Atlantic" investigation could not confirm who Kamel met with.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Tuesday that a secret visit to Israel by former Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel took place shortly before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Speaking on Channel 14's "The Patriots" program, Netanyahu stated that he himself did not meet with Kamel during the visit.
Netanyahu explained that he was attending a memorial ceremony for fallen IDF soldiers on the day of Kamel's visit, which is why no meeting occurred between them. "He did not meet with me because I was at a memorial ceremony for fallen IDF soldiers," Netanyahu said, adding that it is unusual for an intelligence chief to meet directly with a head of state. "This has never happened to me once," he stated.
The Prime Minister's comments come in response to reports, including an "Atlantic" magazine investigation, suggesting Kamel visited Israel on September 26, 2023, just 11 days before the Hamas attack. According to these reports, Kamel intended to warn about Hamas's preparations for a significant offensive and the narrowing window to prevent escalation.
The "Atlantic" report noted that an Egyptian plane landed at Ben Gurion Airport that day and remained for only 67 minutes. However, the investigation could not definitively determine who Kamel met with during his brief visit or provide evidence that the warning was directly conveyed to Netanyahu. The report also mentioned that Netanyahu attended a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War on the same day.
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