Netanyahu was reportedly warned Hamas was planning a major attack a week before October 7, but his office calls it an ‘absolute lie’

Benjamin Netanyahu is facing intense pressure after a new report claimed he received a direct warning about a major Hamas offensive a week before the 7 October 2023 attack. As reported by The Guardian, the allegations appear in the book titled Hostages: 843 Days of Abandonment, which suggests that the president of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reached out to the prime minister to share intelligence about an impending operation.

According to the authors, who claim they gathered information from dozens of sources including very senior officials, the warning reportedly came during a 45-minute phone call. The report states that bin Zayed called from the presidential palace in Abu Dhabi a week and a half before the attack to express concern that Yahya Sinwar was planning an operation that could destabilize the region. 

It is certainly a heavy claim, especially since the book details that bin Zayed and Netanyahu communicated frequently through a secure phone provided by a UAE diplomat. The report notes that bin Zayed was surprised by Netanyahu’s calm reaction to the news.

Israeli opposition leaders have issued a joint statement

Netanyahu’s office issued a statement following this, pushing back against these details. The office stated, “If there was any relevant information, it was passed through intelligence channels between the two countries.” This official denial stands in direct opposition to the claims made by the book, which also mentions that Yahya Sinwar had previously warned a former Palestinian official that the militants were preparing a terrifying operation, which he described as an earthquake.

The political fallout has been immediate and severe. Several Israeli opposition leaders issued a joint statement demanding to know exactly what the prime minister knew and why he did not act to protect Israeli citizens. Gadi Eisenkot, who is currently challenging Netanyahu in the upcoming elections, did not hold back in his criticism. 

He wrote on X, “Netanyahu received dozens of warnings for 7 October and ignored them all. He is unfit.” Eisenkot also criticized the prime minister for what he described as pathetic excuses regarding the morning of the attack.

Other prominent figures have joined the chorus of condemnation. Naftali Bennett, a former prime minister, argued that Netanyahu bears personal and direct responsibility for the deaths that occurred on 7 October. He stated, “Netanyahu cannot continue to serve in his position for even one more minute.” 

Yair Golan, the leader of the centre-left Democrats party, also shared his frustration in a video posted on social media. He insisted that the stories about no one waking the prime minister up are over, telling Netanyahu that he knew, he ignored, he failed, and he is to blame.