Report: Netanyahu Ignored UAE Warning Before October 7 Attack

The details emerge from the upcoming book Hostages: 843 Days of Abandonment by journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval, as reported by Haaretz. According to the investigation, bin Zayed communicated that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing for a significant escalation, advising Netanyahu to seek an economic resolution for Gaza and de-escalate tensions in the West Bank. The warning reportedly originated from a Fatah intermediary trusted by both Hamas and Shin Bet, who relayed Sinwar’s promise of a "mother of all surprises" to the UAE president.

Netanyahu has dismissed the report as an "absolute lie." However, the disclosure has reignited fierce political criticism within Israel. Gadi Eisenkot, a former military commander and Netanyahu’s election rival, claimed the Prime Minister received dozens of warnings ahead of the attack and ignored them all, declaring him "unfit" for office. This account aligns with previous reports suggesting Israeli leadership had received similar intelligence from Egyptian sources in the days preceding the conflict, which ultimately left 1,200 Israelis dead and triggered an ongoing military campaign in Gaza.