Netanyahu Reportedly Ignored Abu Dhabi Warning on Hamas Attack
New investigation raises serious allegations against the Israeli Prime Minister. Netanyahu denies them.
Just weeks before the Israeli parliamentary election, a new investigation creates political tension. Israeli journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval claim Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a personal warning about a major Hamas operation in late September 2023.
The warning reportedly came from the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed. According to the investigation, he warned Netanyahu in a 45-minute phone call about an operation being prepared by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
The investigation is published in a new Hebrew book by the two journalists. According to the authors, it relies on numerous sources. Independent confirmation of the conversation is not yet available.
What Did Netanyahu Reportedly Know?
According to the investigation, the conversation took place in late September 2023, approximately ten days before the Hamas attack on October 7. Mohammed bin Zayed reportedly warned Netanyahu about a major Hamas operation.
The alleged source of the warning is particularly explosive: The investigation details information regarding Yahya Sinwar, then Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip. Sinwar reportedly prepared an operation described as an "earthquake." Bin Zayed warned of bloodshed, regional destabilization, and potential consequences for the Abraham Accords.
Netanyahu reportedly reacted to the warning with relative calm. He is said to have indicated to the Emirati President that Israel was prepared for possible scenarios and that an attack was more likely from the West Bank. The authors also claim Netanyahu did not relay this information to Israeli security leadership.
Netanyahu's Office Denies Phone Call
Netanyahu strongly refutes the account. His office stated that media reports were false. The Prime Minister received no warning from the United Arab Emirates before October 7. Netanyahu himself called the allegations a "lie."
Thus, it is currently one statement against another. The journalists cite anonymous sources reportedly familiar with the content of the alleged conversation. The UAE has not yet confirmed the account.
What is Known So Far
- Claim: Mohammed bin Zayed reportedly warned Netanyahu about a major Hamas operation approximately ten days before October 7.
- Source: A book investigation by Israeli journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval.
- Allegation: Netanyahu reportedly did not relay the warning to Israeli security leadership.
- Denial: Netanyahu's office denies receiving such a warning from the UAE.
- Evidence: The account has not yet been independently confirmed.
The Warning Would Not Have Been the Only One
The new investigation also joins a longer series of allegations regarding warnings before October 7. According to SRF, Israeli observers reported signs of unusual Hamas activities months earlier.
Warnings also reportedly came from Egypt and the US foreign intelligence service. Young Israeli female soldiers stationed at the Gaza Strip border observed Hamas drills and preparations, among other things, and relayed their findings.
The crucial question is therefore not only whether Netanyahu actually received a warning from Abu Dhabi. It also concerns what information the political and military leadership collectively possessed before the attack and how they assessed it.
Debate Over Failures Since October 7
The Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, sparked an ongoing debate in Israel about the failures of politics, the army, and intelligence services. Netanyahu has repeatedly highlighted the responsibility of senior security and military officials for the shortcomings at that time.
His critics, however, accuse him of shifting political responsibility away from himself. The question of what the government knew before the attack and how it reacted to relevant information is thus among the central political points of contention in Israel.
An independent state investigation into the entire failure before October 7 has consequently been a politically contentious issue for years. The new allegations are likely to intensify calls for a comprehensive review.
New Urgency Weeks Before Election
The investigation comes at a particularly sensitive time. Israel will elect a new parliament on October 27, 2026. This is the first parliamentary election since the Hamas attack in October 2023. Netanyahu is campaigning for another term while facing significant political pressure.
Opposition politicians immediately attacked Netanyahu following the release of the investigation, demanding an inquiry. For them, a fundamental question arises: What did the Prime Minister know before the attack – and why were potential warnings not passed on to security authorities?
Whether the allegations will influence the election outcome cannot currently be assessed. Netanyahu is simultaneously trying to unite the right-wing political camp before the election. According to Reuters, polls indicate a difficult starting position for his national-religious coalition.
What the Investigation Actually Proves – and What It Does Not
The new publication presents another serious allegation against Netanyahu. However, it does not independently prove that the alleged phone call actually took place or that the Prime Minister deliberately ignored a warning.
This distinction is crucial for such a far-reaching claim. If the account is confirmed, the political implications would be substantial. If the alleged conversation cannot be confirmed, the fundamental question of what warnings the Israeli leadership had before October 7 and why they did not prevent the attack would still remain.
The story, therefore, is primarily one thing for now: a new, yet unconfirmed investigation into the events preceding October 7. Its political impact in Israel is likely to be significant nonetheless.
Sources
- SRF, "Hamas Terror: Netanyahu Reportedly Ignored Warnings Before October 7," September 8, 2026
- Associated Press, Report on the alleged warning from the UAE, September 8, 2026
- Reuters, Reporting on the Israeli parliamentary election, September 8, 2026
- Haaretz investigation by Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval
