Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was directly warned by United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed of an impending large-scale Hamas offensive just ten days before the October 7, 2023 attacks, according to investigative reports. Netanyahu’s office strongly denied the allegations, calling them false as national elections approach.
The 45-Minute Presidential Warning From Abu Dhabi
A major investigative report published by the Haaretz daily reveals that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed placed a direct, secure phone call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approximately a week and a half before the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks. The conversation lasted 45 minutes, during which the Emirati leader warned that then-Hamas leader Yahya al-Sinwar was preparing a major operation.
According to the reporting, bin Zayed stressed that the anticipated offensive would trigger widespread bloodshed, destabilize the wider Middle East, and directly threaten the Abraham Accords, the normalization agreements brokered in 2020. The Emirati president urged Netanyahu to take the intelligence seriously and prepare for a potential assault.
An adviser to bin Zayed noted that the UAE leader recommended trying to find an economic solution to prevent any escalation from Hamas. Bin Zayed also reportedly shared similar concerns with U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director William J. Burns, warning him that something there is about to explode
ahead of the violence.
Calm Reassurance and Uninformed Intelligence Agencies
Despite the high-level diplomatic warning, Netanyahu reacted with “relative calm,” assuring the Emirati president that Israel was prepared for any scenario. Netanyahu reportedly maintained that any imminent security threat was more likely to originate from the occupied West Bank rather than the Gaza Strip.
Reporting indicates that Netanyahu did not share the contents of the warning with Israel’s domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet, foreign intelligence service Mossad, or the Israeli military. The surprise assault by Hamas militants ultimately killed some 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages taken into Gaza.
Denials From the Prime Minister’s Office
Netanyahu’s office has forcefully pushed back against the published accounts. In a statement released on Tuesday, officials dismissed the claims entirely, declaring that “The press reports are false,” and asserting that No warning was given to the prime minister from the United Arab Emirates before October 7.
The prime minister’s office maintained that Netanyahu did not speak with the UAE president during the specified timeframe and received no direct warnings. The statement added that if any relevant intelligence existed, it would have been passed through intelligence channels between the two countries. Meanwhile, the UAE Foreign Ministry declined to comment directly on private conversations between government leaders, emphasizing that its diplomatic efforts since the outbreak of war have focused consistently on regional de-escalation.
Political Fallout Ahead of National Elections
The resurfacing of pre-war intelligence warnings arrives as Israel prepares for national elections next month, with public scrutiny intensifying over the government’s preparedness on October 7. Gadi Eisenkot, a former top general and Netanyahu’s main political opponent heading the centrist Yashar party, seized upon the revelations.
Eisenkot wrote on X that More and more signs point to the fact that Netanyahu blindly led Israel into the disaster of October 7,
labeling the incumbent prime minister unfit to serve. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also criticized the leadership, stating that “Netanyahu bears personal and direct responsibility for the failure that led to the deaths of thousands of Israelis on his watch.”
Broader Context of Pre-War Negotiations
The newly disclosed call adds to a complex backdrop of diplomatic and backchannel efforts preceding the conflict. Prior to the October attacks, negotiations involving Hamas, Israeli officials, and Fatah mediators had explored long-term stability measures for Gaza, including prisoner exchanges and economic improvements to alleviate the humanitarian blockade. Reports indicate that delays in finalizing these agreements ultimately prompted Hamas leadership to abandon talks and prepare for military escalation.
