UAE dodges question on pre-October 7 warning to Netanyahu

What Happened

The United Arab Emirates declined to directly confirm or deny whether it had warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of an impending Hamas attack before the October 7, 2023 assault, according to a Haaretz report. Asked by The National, an Abu Dhabi-based newspaper, the UAE said security matters are handled through "relevant entities" in discussions with other countries, without addressing the specific claim. The response follows an earlier Haaretz report stating that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed phoned Netanyahu roughly ten days before the attacks. The 45-minute conversation reportedly included a clear warning that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing a large-scale operation targeting Israel. The National is owned by International Media Investments, a media group controlled by bin Zayed's brother.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

If substantiated, the report would suggest that a regional actor with diplomatic ties to Israel had advanced intelligence about Hamas's October 7 plans and communicated it directly to Netanyahu. This could intensify scrutiny of Israeli intelligence and decision-making failures before the attack and put new pressure on Israel-UAE relations by implying the UAE provided actionable warning that was not acted upon.

Watch For

Watch for whether Haaretz publishes further details or evidence of the call, whether UAE officials or Netanyahu's office issue formal denials or confirmations, and whether Israeli state inquiries or military investigations into the October 7 intelligence failures address the alleged warning.