- UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu that Hamas was planning a major operation just days before the attacks on October 7, according to a report by Haaretz.
- The Haaretz report stated that bin Zayed spoke to Netanyahu a week and a half before the attack, informing him that Hamas was planning a major operation.
- Netanyahu's office denied the call, labeling the report an 'absolute lie' and asserting that he did not speak to the Emirati leader at that time.
- Opposition leaders Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett accused Netanyahu of ignoring warnings and evading responsibility for security lapses.
- Israel is set to hold national elections next month, with the actions surrounding the Oct. 7 attack becoming a key issue in the campaign.
- The Haaretz report indicated that Netanyahu reacted calmly to the warning from bin Zayed, assuring him that Israel was prepared for any scenario.
- Hamas militants killed approximately 1,200 people and took another 251 hostage during the Oct. 7 attack.
- The report also mentioned that a Hamas leader had warned a former Palestinian official about a 'terrifying operation' described as an 'earthquake'.
- The warning was relayed to bin Zayed through an Emirati advisor before he contacted Netanyahu.
A report by Haaretz claims that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about a planned Hamas operation just days before the October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and 251 hostages.
The report, based on a forthcoming book, states that the warning was given 10 days before the attack, with Bin Zayed expressing concerns that the operation could lead to significant bloodshed and destabilize the region, jeopardizing the Abraham Accords.
However, Netanyahu's office has vehemently denied the conversation, labeling the report an 'absolute lie'. Netanyahu reportedly responded to the warning with relative calm, assuring Bin Zayed that Israel was prepared for any scenario, suggesting that a potential attack was more likely to come from the occupied West Bank.
The fallout from the attack has intensified scrutiny on Netanyahu, with opposition leaders like Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett accusing him of ignoring multiple warnings and evading responsibility. Eisenkot stated, 'Netanyahu received dozens of warnings for October 7 and ignored them all. He is unfit.' As national elections approach, Netanyahu's handling of security issues remains a pivotal topic in the campaign.456
The Haaretz report also mentioned that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar had warned a former Palestinian official about a 'terrifying operation' described as an 'earthquake,' which was relayed to the Emirati president.279
Netanyahu has rejected calls for an official inquiry into the events surrounding the attack, further fueling the political fire as the election date nears.
“Haaretz says bin Zayed warned that the operation could lead to bloodshed and destabilize the region, undermining the Abraham Accords. Netanyahu's rival Gadi Eisenkot wrote on X that Netanyahu received dozens of warnings and ignored them all, calling him 'unfit'.”
AP News
