Israeli Security Chiefs Deny Knowledge of Egyptian Spy Chief's Pre-Oct 7 Visit

Senior Israeli security officials from the period before the October 7th massacre stated they have no knowledge of a visit to Israel by the head of Egyptian intelligence, Abbas Kamel. A senior security source told Ynet that if such a visit had occurred, the security establishment would have been aware of it in real-time. "We conducted all post-event checks and are unaware of the event. It is highly doubtful he was even in the country. If Netanyahu knows he was here, he should say who he met with," the source added.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged on Tuesday that Kamel had landed in Israel a week and a half before the massacre. In an interview with Channel 14, Netanyahu stated Kamel "did not meet with me because I was at a memorial ceremony for IDF fallen soldiers." According to reports, Kamel had warned of a "large attack planned by Hamas" at the time. Netanyahu claimed he did not know who Kamel met with during this alleged secret visit, stating Kamel was in Israel for only 59 minutes and that he wanted to know who he met with.

However, reports suggest that on September 26, 2023, a flight that landed in Israel carried two businessmen, not the Egyptian intelligence chief. The flight was not officially registered as a security or official visit, and passenger identities were kept confidential due to private jet protocols.

Further reports indicate that Kamel had conveyed a message to Netanyahu's office warning of "something unusual, a formidable operation" about to occur from Gaza, which Netanyahu's office denied. An American magazine report also detailed Kamel's brief visit on September 26, where he allegedly warned of a major Hamas attack and urged Israel to ease economic restrictions. An Israeli source told the magazine that Kamel's unusual visit itself should have signaled the urgency.

Separately, it was revealed that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar had sent a message through an intermediary about a week and a half before October 7th, warning of a "big surprise" for Israel if progress was not made. This message was reportedly passed to Ronen Bar, then head of the Shin Bet, and subsequently to Netanyahu. Despite these warnings, Netanyahu did not update the IDF chief of staff, Shin Bet head, or Mossad head after receiving them.