New Delhi: In a startling new revelation concerning the intelligence failures surrounding the October 7 Hamas attacks, a recent report claims that the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) explicitly warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about a major impending assault just 10 days before the tragedy occurred.
According to a report published by the Israeli daily Haaretz, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan personally telephoned Netanyahu in late September 2023. During a comprehensive 45-minute conversation, the UAE leader allegedly alerted the Israeli Prime Minister that then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was orchestrating a massive attack against Israel. The UAE President expressed grave concerns that the plot would result in significant bloodshed and severely destabilize peace across the entire region.
The Haaretz report, which cites information shared with three senior foreign officials and a Palestinian advisor to the UAE President, indicates that Netanyahu’s response to the warning was surprisingly subdued. The Israeli leader reportedly assured the UAE President that Israel was closely monitoring the situation in Gaza. However, Netanyahu expressed his belief that if Hamas were to launch any significant operation, it would more likely take place in the West Bank rather than emanating from the Gaza Strip. He also maintained that the Israeli security apparatus was fully prepared to handle any escalation.
Tragically, about 10 days later on October 7, Hamas operatives breached the Gaza border in an unprecedented surprise assault. The attack resulted in widespread casualties and the taking of numerous hostages, ultimately triggering the ongoing devastating war in the region.
The intelligence leading to the UAE’s alert reportedly stemmed from Sinwar himself. In mid-2023, indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas regarding a Palestinian prisoner exchange had stalled. Frustrated by the lack of progress, Sinwar reportedly signaled intentions of a massive military action, information that eventually reached the UAE leadership.
The details of this crucial phone call are highlighted in a newly released book by journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval, which is based on extensive interviews with dozens of senior global officials. If accurate, these claims add a heavy layer of scrutiny to the ongoing investigations into how the Israeli intelligence and security establishment failed to preempt the deadliest attack in the nation’s history, despite possessing high-level advance warnings.