Netanyahu denies reports Egypt, UAE warned him before October 7 attack

September 30, 2026 at 04:03 PM2 min

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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies reports that Egypt and the UAE warned him in advance of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks. The Wall Street Journal reported that Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel phoned Netanyahu days before the attack, following earlier warnings from UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. Netanyahu has sued over the claims as Israel prepares for October 27 elections.

Key Facts

The Wall Street Journal reported that Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel phoned Netanyahu days before the October 7, 2023 attack to warn him of Hamas's plans.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reportedly warned Netanyahu in the week before the attack that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning the assault.
Netanyahu has sued over the claims and denies receiving any warning of an attack.
Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar announced he will sue Netanyahu for defamation over the prime minister's attempts to shift blame for the security failure.
Israel's parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 27, with the October 7 attacks and security failures remaining key voter issues.

The Reported Warnings

The Wall Street Journal reported that Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel phoned Netanyahu days before the October 7, 2023 attack to warn him of Hamas's plans. Kamel had previously flown to Israel in September 2023 to warn security officials in person that Hamas was planning an attack. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reportedly warned Netanyahu in the week before the attack that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning the assault. Neither Kamel nor the Egyptian government has commented on the reports, and the UAE foreign ministry said it does not comment on media reports about conversations between leaders.

Netanyahu's Response and Legal Battles

Netanyahu has emphatically denied receiving any warning of an attack and has sued over the claims. He has attempted to shift blame for the security failure onto former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, a longtime political nemesis. Bar announced on Monday that he will sue Netanyahu for defamation. The prime minister is also suing Haaretz over claims that the UAE warned him before the attack.

Election Context

Israel's parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 27. Polling suggests the October 7 attacks, which killed 1,139 people in Israel, and questions over security failures remain important issues for voters. Continued media coverage has kept the trauma of the attack at the centre of public debate, more than three years after Israel launched its war on Gaza, killing more than 74,000 Palestinians.