NETANYAHU WARNED OF HAMAS ATTACK WEEKS BEFORE, REPORT CLAIMS

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was personally alerted by UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan that Hamas was planning a major offensive approximately a week and a half before the 7 October 2023 attack, according to a book by Haaretz reporters. The report states the Emirati leader spoke to Netanyahu in a 45-minute call from Abu Dhabi and expressed concern that the operation could destabilise the region. Netanyahu's office responded by calling the allegation "an absolute lie" and denied he spoke to the Emirati leader at that time. The report further alleges that Netanyahu failed to inform Israeli security chiefs of the warning.

The claims appear in the forthcoming book Hostages: 843 Days of Abandonment, which the authors say is based on dozens of sources in Israel and internationally, including very senior officials. According to the report, UAE officials had communicated frequently with senior Israeli leaders including Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, with a diplomat delivering a secure phone to facilitate such conversations. Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was later killed by Israel, had warned a former Palestinian official that militants were preparing "a terrifying operation" he described as an "earthquake". On 7 October 2023, Hamas militants killed more than 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage.

The allegations emerged during a crucial election campaign in Israel, prompting opposition figures to challenge Netanyahu's fitness for office. Gadi Eisenkot, a former military commander running against Netanyahu in elections scheduled for 27 October, accused him of evading responsibility for security lapses and claimed the prime minister had received dozens of warnings before the attack. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stated Netanyahu "bears personal and direct responsibility" for the deaths and said he could not continue serving. Netanyahu has previously faced criticism over his handling of events leading up to the 7 October attacks.