Netanyahu rejects claims of warnings before Hamas attack

According to the New York Times, based on Israeli officials, Netanyahu rejected the claims of Haaretz newspaper at the beginning of the month that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan warned the Israeli Prime Minister about Hamas attacks before October 7. However, Israeli officials stated that there was such a meeting between the two leaders and that Al Nahyan warned Netanyahu that Hamas was planning a "major attack".

On the other hand, Al Nahyan's warning was never conveyed to Israeli security officials.

Netanyahu, who held a meeting with security officials regarding the Gaza Strip on October 1, 2023, a few days after his meeting with Al Nahyan, did not mention this warning at the meeting. Netanyahu stated that they aimed to maintain calm in Gaza at the meeting and rejected the idea of ​​some security officials about launching an attack on Gaza.

Netanyahu stated at the meeting that an attack on Gaza could sabotage talks to establish diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia.

On the other hand, sources noted that Al Nahyan said that he warned Netanyahu in his meeting with then-US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Burns, months after the attack.

Netanyahu denied Haaretz's claim

In the report published in Israel's Haaretz newspaper on September 8, signed by journalist Shlomi Eldar, it was claimed that UAE President Al Nahyan warned Netanyahu about Hamas' intention to launch a major attack in a phone call on September 23, 2023.

The news claimed that the warning came at a time when Israel did not respond to demands to release Palestinian prisoners and reduce the economic pressure on Gaza, and that Netanyahu ignored this warning and did not convey it to senior officials in the security agency.

In the statement made by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the allegations in question, it was noted that Abu Dhabi's efforts since October 7, 2023 were focused on "reducing tension, strengthening regional stability and limiting violence".

In the statement, it was stated that the state institutions between the UAE and Israel have maintained direct communication channels since the beginning of relations, and that all relevant intelligence information has been shared and continues to be shared when needed.

Discussions regarding political, military and intelligence weaknesses before October 7 continue in Israel.

Hamas launched an attack on military bases and settlements on the Gaza border on October 7, "in response to Israel's daily violations against the Palestinian people and their sanctuaries, especially the Al-Aqsa Mosque."

Netanyahu, who refuses to take responsibility for the weakness before the attack, puts the blame on the army and security agency, while the opposition argues that political responsibility belongs to Netanyahu.

While the disagreements between Netanyahu and the opposition deepen before the country's general elections, public opinion polls show that Netanyahu does not have the necessary support to form a new government.

Netanyahu has been heading the current government, described as the "most right-wing government" in Israeli history, since December 2022.