Netanyahu Was Warned About Hamas Attack Before October 7, Didn't Alert Security Chiefs: Report

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was allegedly given a direct warning about Hamas planning a major operation against Israel days before the October 7, 2023 attack, but did not share the information with the country’s top security officials, according to an investigation by Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

The report, which has triggered fresh questions over the catastrophic security failures surrounding the Hamas-led assault, said the warning came directly from UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, known as MBZ, around a week and a half before the attack.

According to Haaretz, MBZ spoke to Netanyahu for around 45 minutes and warned him that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing something major. The Emirati leader reportedly described

the threat as a “Zilzal” – Arabic for an earthquake – and urged Netanyahu to take the warning seriously. He also expressed concern that a major Hamas attack could cause widespread bloodshed, destabilise the region and threaten the Abraham Accords.

However, Netanyahu allegedly responded calmly, telling MBZ that he believed Hamas was preparing an operation in the West Bank and reassuring him that Israel was prepared for any scenario. The Haaretz investigation further claims that Netanyahu did not subsequently brief the heads of the Shin Bet, Mossad or the Israel Defence Forces about the conversation.

The report also places the alleged warning in the context of other intelligence that had reached Israel. In September 2023, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar reportedly briefed Netanyahu about messages from Sinwar indicating that Hamas was preparing a major operation. A subsequent security meeting was held, where Bar warned that Israel was heading towards a confrontation and recommended stronger defensive or offensive measures.

Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel also reportedly contacted Netanyahu with a warning about an impending “terrifying operation” by Hamas. According to the investigation, Netanyahu did not disclose either warning during a subsequent security meeting on October 1.

The allegations are particularly significant because Netanyahu had previously maintained that Israel’s intelligence and security chiefs had failed to warn him about Hamas’ intentions. In October 2023, he publicly said that he had not received any warning about Hamas planning a war, a statement that was later deleted amid criticism.

Netanyahu’s office has now strongly rejected the investigation, calling it an “absolute lie”. It said Netanyahu did not speak to the UAE president during the period in question and received no warning from him.

The report has nevertheless reignited a long-running debate in Israel over who bears responsibility for the failures that preceded October 7. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett has backed the substance of the report, saying Netanyahu was warned about Sinwar’s plans and accusing him of leading Israel “blindly” into the disaster.

The October 7 Hamas assault killed around 1,200 people in Israel and saw about 250 people taken hostage, becoming the deadliest attack in the country’s history and triggering the devastating Gaza war that followed.