The Prime Minister's Office on Saturday dismissed reports that Benjamin Netanyahu met or spoke with Abbas Kamel, then head of Egyptian General Intelligence, in the months before the October 7 attack. 'The recycled lies will not become truth even if repeated again and again,' the PM's office said.
The Prime Minister's Office issued its most explicit denial yet Saturday evening, rejecting reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met or spoke with then-Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel in the months before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. The PMO dismissed the claims as 'recycled lies' that will not become truth no matter how often repeated.
The denials come in response to a detailed investigation by The Atlantic magazine, published early Saturday at 01:19 Jerusalem, which alleged that Kamel made a secret visit to Israel on September 26, 2023 — 11 days before the attack — and warned Israeli officials that Hamas was planning a major escalation. The report, based on Israeli, Egyptian, American, and European sources, said Kamel recommended granting economic concessions to Gaza but provided no specific date or operational details.
Throughout the day Saturday, the PMO issued multiple statements denying the meeting and the warning, also citing Egypt's own denial of having issued a prior warning, made on October 11, 2023. The office asserted that Netanyahu did not speak with Kamel in the months preceding the attack and that no Israeli intelligence official relayed such a warning to the prime minister. As The Zioneer reported, Israeli officials including then-National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi have denied the visit occurred.
The precise chain of communication between Cairo and Jerusalem before October 7 remains disputed. While The Atlantic investigation cited multiple sources confirming the meeting, Egypt formally denied issuing a warning in an Oct. 11, 2023 statement. The PMO says it is standing by its denial and that no proof of a meeting or warning has been provided.
8 developments
- StrongNetanyahu denies speaking with Egyptian intel chief before Oct. 7, threatens libel suit
- StrongAP: Netanyahu Asked UAE President to Deny Pre-Oct. 7 Warning During Secret Visit
- DevelopingUAE denies bin Zayed warned Netanyahu before Oct. 7 attack
- DevelopingNYT reports Netanyahu received 'non-specific' warning before Oct. 7, did not share with security chiefs
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