Egypt Spy Chief Denies Visit to Israel Before Oct. 7 Attack

The aircraft, operated by the Egyptian charter company Smart Aviation, landed at approximately 10:00 AM and departed for Cairo an hour later without any passengers. The two businessmen entered Israel via the terminal used for private flights, and their trip was registered as a routine business visit rather than an official or security-related operation. While their identities are known to Israeli authorities, they remain undisclosed under standard privacy protocols for private aviation.

The flight's arrival had previously sparked significant controversy. Former military secretary Avi Gill confirmed that an Egyptian plane had landed in Israel about a week and a half before the October 7 massacre. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also acknowledged the landing but denied meeting Kamel, claiming he did not know who the intelligence chief met. Senior intelligence officials have since disputed Netanyahu's account, clarifying that Kamel was not on the flight.

The new details have triggered a public dispute among Israeli journalists. Some commentators, including Amit Segal, criticized the extensive media coverage and political accusations that had been built around the false narrative of a secret intelligence warning, while others defended their reporting based on the information available at the time.