UAE Warned Netanyahu Of Major Hamas Operation Days Before Oct. 7 Attack, News Report Says

JERUSALEM — A reported 45-minute telephone call between United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which the Emirati leader warned of a major Hamas offensive 10 days before October 7, 2023, has triggered a confrontation between the Israeli Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the country's security establishment. While an investigation by Haaretz cites senior sources claiming Netanyahu was warned the operation would cause bloodshed and destabilize the region, the PMO has dismissed the account as an absolute lie.

The dispute arrives as Israel prepares for national elections next month. With the October 7 attack resulting in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages, political rivals are using the reported warning to argue that the disaster was not a failure of intelligence, but a failure of political leadership.

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The 'Zilzal' Chain: From Sinwar to Netanyahu

The warning did not originate in Abu Dhabi, but through a Palestinian intermediary with connections to both Hamas and Israeli security officials. According to the Haaretz investigation, Yahya Sinwar told this intermediary in September 2023 that he was preparing a zilzal — the Arabic word for earthquake.

Sinwar allegedly described the plan as the mother of all surprises and a terrifying operation. This information was relayed to UAE leaders and subsequently passed to the Shin Bet on September 15, 2023. Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar reportedly briefed Netanyahu on this warning, and on September 17, senior defense officials held a security assessment where Bar described Israel as being on a collision course.

When UAE leadership concluded that Israel had not acted adequately on this intelligence, President Mohammed bin Zayed decided to bypass official channels and approach Netanyahu directly. This led to the reported 45-minute call in late September, where bin Zayed warned that the operation could undermine the Abraham Accords, the normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab and Muslim-majority nations.

Mohammed bin Zayed reportedly shared these same concerns with CIA Director William J. Burns, stating he had tried to convince Netanyahu that something there is about to explode.

Competing Accounts of the Warning

The dispute over the call is defined by three distinct narratives: the investigative report, the government denial, and the assertions of political rivals.

Haaretz reports that Netanyahu responded to the Emirati president by stating Israel was prepared for any scenario and that Hamas was more likely to operate in the occupied West Bank. This assessment allegedly remained unchanged even after Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel contacted Netanyahu around the same period to warn of something unusual, a terrifying operation.

The PMO's defense is absolute. The office stated that Netanyahu did not speak with the UAE president during the period and received no warning from him, adding that if any relevant information existed, it was passed through intelligence channels.

Supporters of the Prime Minister, including Yinon Magal, argue that a call of such magnitude would have left documentation and records that would have leaked by now. Magal asserted that if such a conversation had taken place, the Prime Minister would not issue such a sweeping denial because of those records.

Conversely, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has stated he knows for a fact that both the UAE and Egypt warned Netanyahu. Bennett argued that had he received such warnings, he would have immediately increased the level of readiness, met with commanders in southern Israel, and strengthened defenses.

Source/Actor	Claim Regarding UAE Warning	Stated Action/Response
Haaretz Report	45-minute call occurred 10 days before attack	Netanyahu remained calm; focused on West Bank
PMO	Absolute lie; no such call took place	Relevant info passed only via intelligence channels
Naftali Bennett	Confirmed as fact	Accuses Netanyahu of personal and direct responsibility
UAE Foreign Ministry	Refuses to comment on speculation	Maintains open communication lines since 5 years ago

Security Gaps and Internal Silence

A critical detail in the reporting is the alleged silence that followed the call. The investigation claims Netanyahu did not raise the warning during security briefings before October 7. Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and former IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi told Haaretz they were not informed that the call with bin Zayed had occurred.

This suggests a breakdown in communication between the political leadership and the security establishment. Even as the Shin Bet proposed proactive moves against Hamas on October 1, including targeting senior officials, Netanyahu reportedly did not make a decision, requesting further proposals for consideration instead.

This narrative contrasts with Netanyahu's own public claims. He has recently accused security chiefs of failing to wake him in the hours before the assault, asserting he would have taken steps to prevent it had he been alerted.

However, a Channel 12 report cited in the reporting states that Netanyahu took at least two hours to leave his Caesarea home after being informed of the Hamas attack at 6:29 am on October 7, and did not contact the IDF or Shin Bet chiefs during that window. His published schedule shows he ordered the Gaza border closed and a full IDF mobilisation at 9:55 am.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the UAE officially confirm the warning?

No. The UAE Foreign Ministry stated it will not comment on speculation and will not act as the Israeli government's public relations office, though it did not explicitly deny the report.

What was the 'zilzal' warning?

It was a warning from Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, passed through a Palestinian intermediary, indicating the preparation of an earthquake or a huge surprise operation.

Who else reportedly warned Netanyahu?

Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel reportedly warned Netanyahu of a terrifying operation around the same period as the UAE warning.

As the election approaches, the focus has shifted from the technical failures of the border fence to the decisions made in the Prime Minister's office. Gadi Eisenkot, a former top general and current political opponent, has accused the Prime Minister of ignoring dozens of warnings and has declared him unfit for office.

Eisenkot has demanded a state commission of inquiry to examine the previous decade of leadership once the next government is formed, intending to determine exactly what Netanyahu knew and did not know.