Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret visit to Abu Dhabi on Sunday to meet with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The meeting followed reports that the Emirati leader had warned Netanyahu of a looming Hamas threat before the October 7, 2023, attack, a claim Netanyahu’s office has repeatedly denied.
Netanyahu’s Secret Meeting and the Haaretz Report
Benjamin Netanyahu traveled secretly to the United Arab Emirates over the weekend for an hourlong meeting with the UAE’s president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The trip was first reported by Israel’s Channel 12, prompting a swift reaction from the Israeli security establishment. While the UAE’s state-run WAM agency stated the leaders discussed bilateral relations between the UAE and Israel and ways to strengthen and develop them,
people briefed on the trip indicated a more specific agenda.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, Netanyahu sought a denial from the Emirati president regarding a report published earlier this month by the Israeli daily Haaretz. That report alleged that bin Zayed had warned Netanyahu of a huge surprise
being prepared by then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar just days before the October 7, 2023, attacks. Netanyahu’s office has previously dismissed the Haaretz report as fabricated
and politically motivated.
Shin Bet Complaint Against Channel 12
The disclosure of the prime minister’s travel plans while he was still in transit triggered an internal security backlash. The Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, filed a formal complaint with the chief military censor against Channel 12, characterizing the reporting as a serious censorship violation.
Officials stated that the report, which aired at 9:38 p.m. while the aircraft was still outside Israeli airspace, endangered the prime minister and the operation and forces on the ground. The Prime Minister’s Office argued that the timing of the broadcast exposed operational methods and endangered the forces involved in the trip.
EU Maritime Policy and Middle East Security
While diplomatic efforts continued in Abu Dhabi, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced that the bloc is seeking observer status
in a Saudi-led maritime defense coalition. The coalition is intended to protect energy exports from the region, a priority for the EU as it grapples with record energy prices linked to the war in Iran.
Kallas noted that the need is bigger than it’s ever been
for an expanded naval presence in the Red Sea. The EU currently maintains six vessels in the region under its own force, dubbed ASPIDES, to escort cargo ships through the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
Violence in Gaza and the West Bank
Regional tensions remain high as military operations continue. On Monday, a strike in Gaza City killed a woman and wounded her husband, according to officials at Shifa Hospital. A second strike on a school in the Nuseirat refugee camp left another individual critically injured. The Israeli military confirmed it was aware of the strikes and was reviewing the results, describing one target as a military operative.
These developments occur as domestic political pressure mounts on Netanyahu, who faces upcoming Knesset elections in October while trailing in recent polls.
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