Mystery Surrounds Egyptian Intelligence Chief's Visit to Israel Before Oct. 7
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
An Egyptian intelligence plane landed in Israel on September 26, 2023, eleven days before the October 7 Hamas attack, with its passenger's identity and meeting details remaining unclear. Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed the visit but denied meeting the Egyptian official, demanding to know who did. Former National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi denies knowledge of any meeting. Claims have also surfaced about a senior Israeli security official's alleged presence, which he denies. The incident raises questions about potential warnings Egypt may have conveyed regarding Gaza.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- An Egyptian intelligence plane landed in Israel on September 26, 2023, with passenger identities and meeting details unconfirmed.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed the visit but denied meeting the Egyptian official, asking who did.
- Former National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi denies knowledge of any meeting involving the Egyptian official.
- Allegations about a senior Israeli security official's presence on the plane have been denied.
- The visit occurred amid repeated Egyptian warnings about potential escalation in Gaza.
- The official response at the time denied knowledge of the Egyptian plane's arrival.
Questions linger over the identity of individuals aboard an aircraft attributed to former Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, which landed in Israel on September 26, 2023, eleven days prior to the Hamas attack on October 7. Recent claims have circulated regarding the passengers, including allegations about a senior Israeli security official, identified only as 'N', who previously served in a different security agency and had extensive contact with top Egyptian officials. This individual has denied the claims, stating he was never present at such a meeting. However, no answer was provided regarding his whereabouts on the day the plane landed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Kamel's arrival in Israel, publicly questioning who the Egyptian intelligence minister met with, stating, "I want to know who he met with, because he did not meet with me. Someone is trying to pin this on me, and it is a lie." Former National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi also stated he was unaware of any meeting Kamel held in Israel before October 7, a statement that gains weight following Netanyahu's confirmation. Hanegbi had previously denied any knowledge of the flight.
During this time, a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War was taking place at Mount Herzl, attended by Netanyahu, then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Mossad Chief David Barnea, then-Shin Bet Head Ronen Bar, and then-Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. Hanegbi, who was then National Security Advisor and expected to liaise with his Egyptian counterpart, was not at the ceremony.
An official response from the National Security Council's office at the time stated they had no knowledge of an Egyptian plane arriving in Israel on that date, contradicting Netanyahu's recent confirmation. This discrepancy, coupled with the unanswered question of who met Kamel, remains a significant point of contention. The situation is further complicated by reports from Egyptian and Israeli sources indicating that Egypt had repeatedly conveyed messages about a potential escalation in Gaza and a "volatile" situation in the weeks preceding October 7. Israeli diplomatic sources claimed the National Security Council received a specific warning about "something big" about to happen, though these claims were denied by the Foreign Ministry and the National Security Council at the time.
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