Netanyahu meets UAE President in Abu Dhabi, discusses Hamas attack warning

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

This meeting was confirmed by the official news agency of UAE two days later. Earlier in May this year, Israel had said that Netanyahu had said in February that Prime Minister Netanyahu had made a confidential visit to the UAE and met the President,

However, UAE did not accept it then.

Israel's official news agency WAM, confirming Netanyahu's visit, wrote, "UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who arrived on a visit to the UAE on Sunday. During the meeting, both sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen mutual relations.

According to the Israeli PMO, Netanyahu had reached UAE with his wife. Strengthening relations between Israel and UAE as well as regional challenges were discussed between the leaders of the two countries.

An official statement from the Prime Minister's Office said that Netanyahu was accompanied by the head of the National Security Council, the Mossad chief, the military secretary and a foreign policy advisor.

'Discussion on the issue of warning of Hamas attack'

News agency Associated Press shared some information quoting a person with knowledge of the meeting of the two leaders. The report claims that there was a conversation between Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohammed for about an hour.

According to this, one of the main issues in the talks was the report which claimed that before the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, the UAE President had warned Netanyahu about the danger of a possible attack.

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This report was published by Israeli newspaper Haaretz earlier this month. The report claimed that Sheikh Mohammed had warned Netanyahu about the possible threat shortly before Hamas' attack on southern Israel.

According to a person with knowledge of the meeting, Netanyahu asked Sheikh Mohammed to deny the report. Netanyahu's office has previously rejected Haaretz's report.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz, in a report published on September 9, claimed that Sheikh Mohammed had spoken to Netanyahu on the phone about 10 days before the attack.

According to the report, he had mentioned the warning given by the then Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, in which it was said to prepare for a major attack.

The report also claimed that Sheikh Mohammed had earlier informed Israel's internal security agency Shin Bet about this threat.

However, the Prime Minister's Office has denied that any such information reached the Prime Minister before the attack.

Netanyahu promised to file a lawsuit against Haaretz the next day, calling the report "fabricated" and "politically motivated."

Security agency expressed objection on Channel 12's report

The news of Netanyahu's visit was first broadcast by Israel's Channel 12.

After this, Israel's internal security agency Shin Bet has filed a complaint before the head of the military censor. The agency accused Channel 12 of serious censorship violations.

According to the Shin Bet, the timing of the report's broadcast could have posed a threat to the security of the prime minister and forces on the ground.

The agency also said that the report exposed some of its operational methods.

Information about another visit of Netanyahu in May came to light

Even in May 2026, Israel had said that Netanyahu had visited UAE, but UAE did not accept it.

At the time, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office claimed that Netanyahu made a "secret visit" to the UAE and met with President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Israel had described this meeting as a "historic progress" in the relations between the two countries.

However, the UAE Foreign Ministry had rejected the claim of Netanyahu's visit. The UAE and Israel signed the US-backed Abraham Accords in 2020, but relations between the two countries remained tense for several years.