Questions Swirl Over Egyptian Spy Chief's Pre-Oct. 7 Visit to Israel
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel visited Israel before the October 7th Hamas attacks, stating Kamel was on the ground for 59 minutes. Netanyahu expressed a desire to know who Kamel met with during the brief visit, which reportedly included warnings of an impending Hamas assault. Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana also called for clarification, noting Kamel's arrival 11 days prior to the attacks and the lack of transparency regarding his meetings. Questions persist about whether specific warnings were conveyed to Netanyahu's office and why security camera footage from the airport has not been reviewed.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel visited Israel shortly before the October 7th attacks, Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed.
- Netanyahu stated Kamel was on the ground for 59 minutes and wants to know who he met with.
- Reports suggest Kamel warned of a large Hamas attack during his visit, a claim previously denied by Netanyahu's office.
- Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana stated Kamel arrived 11 days before the attacks and called for transparency.
- It remains unclear if Netanyahu has requested a review of airport security footage to identify Kamel's contacts.
- Netanyahu previously hosted Kamel at his residence two years prior to the recent visit.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Tuesday that Egypt's intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, visited Israel shortly before the October 7th Hamas attacks. Netanyahu stated that Kamel was on the ground for 59 minutes and that he wants to know who Kamel met with, suggesting someone is trying to shift blame. Reports indicate Kamel warned of a large Hamas attack during his visit.
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana echoed these concerns, stating Kamel landed in Israel 11 days before October 7th and met with someone, though he doesn't know who. Ohana believes Kamel likely met with a senior security official and called for clarification on the meeting's details.
This visit follows earlier reports, including one by AP and later detailed by Ynet and The Atlantic, that Kamel had conveyed warnings from Egypt to Netanyahu's office about an imminent, significant threat from Gaza. While Netanyahu's office has denied receiving such messages, questions remain about whether any communication was pursued over the past three years.
Netanyahu himself denies speaking with or meeting Kamel during this specific visit. It is unclear if Netanyahu has requested Transportation Minister Miri Regev to review airport security footage to identify Kamel's contacts. The situation raises questions about Netanyahu's awareness of such high-level meetings occurring under his watch.
Netanyahu previously hosted Kamel at his Jerusalem residence two years prior, with a video released by his office showing them shaking hands and conversing. While Netanyahu has publicly called for an investigation into the recent visit, it remains unclear if a formal directive has been issued or why security camera footage has not been prioritized.
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