Netanyahu Faces Political Backlash Over Report Of UAE Warning Before October 7 Attack

Netanyahu Faces Political Backlash Over Report of UAE Warning Before October 7 Attack Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing intensified political criticism following a report that United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan warned him about a planned major Hamas operation roughly 10 days before the October 7, 2023 attack. The report, published by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz and based on findings from a forthcoming book by Israeli journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval, alleges that Sheikh Mohamed spoke with Netanyahu in a 45-minute telephone conversation and warned that then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing a major operation against Israel. According to the report, the warning was described as potentially capable of causing significant bloodshed, destabilising the region and threatening the Abraham Accords between Israel and Arab states. Oren Liebermann reported that the warning allegedly came after information was passed through intermediaries concerning Sinwar’s intentions. The report said Sinwar had used the term “earthquake” to describe the scale of the operation he was preparing. The allegations have triggered renewed questions over the security and intelligence failures that preceded the October 7 attack, which saw Hamas-led militants kill about 1,200 people in Israel and abduct 251 others, according to Israeli figures. The report claims Netanyahu reacted calmly to the warning and believed Israel was prepared for a possible attack. It further alleges that he considered the greater potential threat to be coming from the occupied West Bank rather than Gaza. The allegations have sparked fierce criticism from Netanyahu’s political opponents, who argue that the reported warning adds to a growing body of claims that the prime minister and Israeli authorities failed to act on information about an impending Hamas assault. Netanyahu’s office, however, has strongly rejected the report, describing it as an “absolute lie.” His office said the prime minister did not speak with the UAE president during the period in question and did not receive such a warning. The UAE has taken a more cautious position. Its Foreign Ministry declined to comment directly on reports concerning conversations between government leaders but said the UAE and Israel have maintained open and direct channels of communication since establishing diplomatic relations.

The ministry also said that relevant intelligence has been and continues to be communicated between the appropriate entities when necessary. The controversy comes at a politically sensitive time in Israel, with national elections approaching. Opposition figures have seized on the allegations to renew calls for accountability and a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the October 7 attack. Former Israeli military chief and opposition figure Gadi Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of failing to respond appropriately to warnings ahead of the attack, while former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also placed direct responsibility on Netanyahu for what he described as failures under his leadership.

The report is likely to further intensify the political debate over whether Netanyahu and his government adequately responded to intelligence warnings before the deadliest attack on Israel in decades. For now, the central allegation remains disputed: Netanyahu’s office denies receiving the warning, while the journalists behind the investigation maintain that their reporting is supported by confidential sources and documentary evidence.