Netanyahu Denies Hamas Warning Before Oct. 7 Attack
Netanyahu’s office denies earlier warning about Hamas attack, sparking new debate
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office on Tuesday, September 8, rejected claims that Benjamin Netanyahu had been warned of a major Hamas operation before the October 7, 2023 assault that killed roughly 1,200 people and seized 251 hostages. In a statement released to the press, the office called the allegation an “absolute lie” and insisted that the prime minister never spoke with United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed during the period in question and received no such warning.
The denial follows a report from the Israeli daily Haaretz, which cited research for a new book by Israeli journalists titled Hostages: 843 Days of Abandonment. According to the book, bin Zayed held a 45‑minute conversation with Netanyahu about ten days before the Hamas attack. In that discussion, the UAE president allegedly expressed concern that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning a large‑scale operation, warning that such an attack could lead to widespread bloodshed, destabilize the region and jeopardize the Abraham Accords. Netanyahu supposedly replied that Israel was prepared for any scenario and that the threat was more likely to emanate from the West Bank.
Haaretz also contends that an earlier warning reached Israel’s internal security agency, the Shin Bet, via a Palestinian intermediary who passed Sinwar’s threat of an “earthquake” to an adviser of bin Zayed. On September 15, the warning was supposedly forwarded to then‑Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, who briefed Netanyahu and later participated in security discussions on the matter. However, both former Shin Bet chief Bar and former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Herzi Halevi have publicly stated that they were not informed about the purported UAE warning.
The controversy has resurfaced ahead of Israel’s national election on October 27. Political opponents have seized on the report, with former prime minister Naftali Bennett publicly expressing belief in the warning’s authenticity. Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot has accused Netanyahu of ignoring such alerts prior to the attack. Meanwhile, the prime minister’s office maintains that the central allegation is false and has called for an objective review of the claims.
The debate highlights lingering questions about Israel’s intelligence and security preparedness in the lead‑up to the Oct. 7 offensive. As the campaign season heats up, the issue may become a pivotal point for voters evaluating Netanyahu’s leadership record.
