Netanyahu denies UAE leader warned him of Hamas attack before Oct 7

September 27, 2026 at 12:39 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied reports that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan warned him of a major Hamas attack before October 7, 2023. Israeli officials, however, told The New York Times that such a conversation took place and that Al Nahyan specifically cautioned about a planned large-scale assault. The warning was never passed on to Israeli security officials.

Key Facts

The New York Times reported that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about a planned major Hamas attack before October 7, 2023.
Israeli officials confirmed to The New York Times that the conversation took place, but the warning was never relayed to Israeli security officials.
Haaretz journalist Shlomi Eldar reported on September 8 that Al Nahyan warned Netanyahu in a phone call on September 23, 2023, about Hamas's intention to carry out a major attack.
The UAE Foreign Ministry stated that Abu Dhabi's efforts since October 7, 2023, have focused on de-escalation, strengthening regional stability, and limiting violence.
Netanyahu has refused to accept responsibility for the pre-attack failures, blaming the military and security services, while the opposition argues political responsibility lies with him.

The Warning

The New York Times reported that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about a planned major Hamas attack before October 7, 2023. Israeli officials told the newspaper that the conversation took place and that Al Nahyan specifically cautioned Netanyahu about a large-scale assault. However, the warning was never passed on to Israeli security officials. A few days after the call, on October 1, 2023, Netanyahu held a meeting with security officials about the Gaza Strip but did not mention the warning.

Netanyahu's Denial

Netanyahu denied the claims reported by Haaretz that Al Nahyan warned him about Hamas attacks before October 7. Haaretz journalist Shlomi Eldar reported on September 8 that Al Nahyan warned Netanyahu in a phone call on September 23, 2023. The report stated that the warning came at a time when Israel had not responded to demands for the release of Palestinian prisoners and reduced economic pressure on Gaza. Netanyahu allegedly ignored the warning and did not pass it on to senior security officials.

UAE Response

The UAE Foreign Ministry said Abu Dhabi's efforts since October 7, 2023, have focused on de-escalation, strengthening regional stability, and limiting violence. The ministry stated that state institutions of the UAE and Israel have maintained direct communication channels since the start of their relations and share all relevant intelligence when needed. Debates continue in Israel over political, military, and intelligence failures before October 7. Netanyahu has refused to accept responsibility for the pre-attack failures, blaming the military and security services, while the opposition argues political responsibility lies with him.