Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Sep 9: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has rejected reports that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed warned him in advance about Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
In a post on X, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said the reports were false and maintained that any relevant information shared between Israel and the UAE was communicated through intelligence channels.
“The press reports are false. No warning was given to the Prime Minister by the United Arab Emirates before October 7,” the office said, adding that any relevant information would have been passed through intelligence channels between the two countries.
The denial came after an investigative report by Israeli newspaper Haaretz claimed that Mohammed bin Zayed had warned Netanyahu that then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing a “major attack” against Israel.
According to the report, the Emirati leader spoke to Netanyahu for around 45 minutes from Abu Dhabi and also urged him to address wider sources of instability, including Gaza’s economic situation and growing tensions in the West Bank.
The report, based on the book Kidnapped: 843 Days of Abandonment, claimed that bin Zayed was surprised by Netanyahu’s response and did not believe the Israeli prime minister appeared sufficiently alarmed.
According to a UAE presidential adviser interviewed for the book, Netanyahu reportedly said he believed Hamas was preparing to act in the West Bank and assured bin Zayed that Israel was prepared for any scenario.
The report further claimed that bin Zayed later discussed the matter with then-CIA director William J Burns, expressing concern that a major escalation was imminent. He reportedly said Netanyahu had focused instead on developments in the West Bank.
Hamas launched its attack on southern Israel around 10 days after the reported conversation, triggering the war in Gaza and a major regional crisis.
The latest allegations are significant as Netanyahu has repeatedly faced criticism over claims that Israeli authorities failed to act on warnings and intelligence indicating a possible Hamas attack before October 7.
The controversy also comes ahead of Israel’s Knesset elections scheduled for October 27, with Netanyahu seeking another term as prime minister. The Israeli government’s denial is expected to keep attention focused on the question of what warnings, if any, were received before the Hamas assault.