The Lead
A Haaretz investigation published Tuesday morning claims that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ten days before the October 7 massacre to warn of a major operation planned by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. According to the report, Netanyahu concealed the warning from Israel's security chiefs, a claim the Prime Minister’s Office has dismissed as an "absolute lie."
The Alleged Warning
According to the investigation by Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval in Haaretz, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ) initiated a 45-minute phone call with Prime Minister Netanyahu approximately ten days before the Hamas invasion. During this conversation, MBZ reportedly shared "verified information" that Yahya Sinwar was planning a "major operation" and urged Israel to prepare for a "formidable event" that would lead to significant bloodshed. The report alleges that despite the specificity of the warning, Netanyahu did not brief the heads of the IDF, Shin Bet, or Mossad on the contents of the call.
Official Denials and Political Reaction
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) issued a sharp rebuttal shortly after the report's publication. "Absolute lie!" the PMO stated, asserting that Netanyahu did not speak with the UAE President during the period in question and received no such warning.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett challenged the PMO's denial, stating on 103FM that the report is "true." Bennett claimed that both the UAE leader and the head of Egyptian intelligence had warned Netanyahu of a planned large-scale Hamas operation. "Netanyahu led us blindly into this terrible disaster," Bennett said, accusing the Prime Minister of remaining captive to a failed "conception" regarding Hamas.
Context of Intelligence Failures
This report adds a new layer to the ongoing public and political debate regarding the intelligence failures surrounding October 7. As The Zioneer has previously reported, Netanyahu has faced scrutiny over his account of the morning of the attack, including claims that defense officials "deliberately" failed to wake him during critical early-morning assessments. While the Prime Minister has maintained that he recognized the event as a war immediately upon being briefed, the Haaretz report suggests that strategic warnings may have been available well before the first rockets were fired. The Zioneer will continue to follow official updates and any further corroboration of these claims.
- The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
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- Captured Hamas Files: Sinwar Expected Full Hezbollah Invasion on October 7Editorially linked
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