A Haaretz investigation published Tuesday morning claims that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a week and a half before the October 7 massacre and warned that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning a major operation against Israel. According to the report, Netanyahu heard the warning but concealed it from security chiefs. Netanyahu's office responded, calling the report an 'absolute lie.'
The Haaretz investigation published Tuesday morning alleges that on September 28, 2023 — ten days before the Hamas-led massacre — UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and conveyed a specific warning: 'Verified information that Sinwar is planning a major operation against Israel, you must prepare for a terrible event.' According to the report, the 45-minute call was heard by Netanyahu but not shared with security chiefs. Netanyahu's office dismissed the report as an 'absolute lie.'
Initial reports of the alleged warning emerged at 07:21 Jerusalem time Tuesday, followed within the same hour by Haaretz's detailed investigation. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett then confirmed the account, accusing Netanyahu of 'criminal negligence' and bearing 'personal and direct responsibility' for the October 7 deaths, as The Zioneer reported. The corroboration thus evolved from anonymous reports to a named investigation and an on-record confirmation by a former premier.
As The Zioneer has previously reported, the UAE has been a central regional partner for Israel since the Abraham Accords. Bennett's statement further alleged that Netanyahu ignored warnings, fueled Hamas to stop protests, and blocked a state commission of inquiry — claims denied by the Prime Minister's Office.
The report remains denied by Netanyahu's office, and the exact content of the call and whether it was shared with any other officials has not been independently confirmed by additional sources.
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