Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was warned about a week and a half before the October 7, 2023 attack that Hamas was preparing a major operation against Israel, an investigation by the Haaretz newspaper claims.
According to the report, the warning was given directly to Netanyahu by the president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, during a roughly 45-minute phone call in late September 2023.
The leader of the United Arab Emirates expressed his concern about Yahya Sinwar’s plans and warned that a major attack could cause bloodshed and destabilization throughout the Region.
The investigation, based on dozens of sources in Israel and abroad, internal documents, correspondence and recordings, alleges that Netanyahu took the warning calmly.
According to the cited sources, he told bin Zayed that he believed Hamas could attempt an operation in the West Bank and that Israel was prepared for any scenario.
Haaretz claims that the warning was not subsequently conveyed to the top leaders of the Israeli security apparatus, including the head of Israel’s internal intelligence and security service (Shin Bet), the director of Mossad, and the Chief of Staff of the Army.
However, other signals of a possible escalation had reached the Israeli authorities.
In September, Yahya Sinwar told a Palestinian mediator that he was preparing a “big surprise” and used the word “zilzal,” which means “earthquake” in Arabic.
This information was relayed to the Shin Bet on September 15. Two days later, a security meeting was held, attended by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and representatives of military intelligence.
Shin Bet head Ronen Bar warned of the possibility of an escalation and called for stronger protective measures in Gaza and the West Bank.
According to the investigation, the head of Egyptian intelligence, Abbas Kamel, also contacted Netanyahu in the days before the attack and warned him about an “unusual” and potentially dangerous operation that Hamas could be preparing.
At the same time, Israel and Hamas had been conducting secret contacts for an agreement aimed at reducing tensions in Gaza.
The negotiations included easing the blockade, increasing supplies and creating economic opportunities for the Palestinians, while a prisoner exchange agreement was also on the table.
According to Haaretz, by the end of August 2023 Netanyahu had approved in principle the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners, including 20 serving life sentences, in exchange for four Israelis held in Gaza. However, the meeting of the ministerial committee that was supposed to approve the deal was repeatedly postponed and the negotiations ultimately stalled.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, causing one of the worst security crises in the country’s history and leading to the taking of hundreds of people hostage.
The investigation also raises questions about how offers for the release of hostages were handled in the early days of the war.
According to the cited sources, there were contacts for the release of some civilians, while Qatar offered to mediate between the parties.
However, in the first days after the attack, Israeli authorities were focused on the military response and the fight against Hamas.
Netanyahu’s office has categorically denied the Haaretz investigation, calling it “an absolute lie.”
According to her, Netanyahu did not hold a conversation with the Emirati president during the period in question and did not receive any warning from him.
Even former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar and former Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi have stated that they were not informed of the warning that, according to Haaretz, had come from the Emirati president.
The newspaper says it has contacted the Emirati president for a reaction, but has not received a response.