Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu received a direct warning from United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed about an impending large-scale Hamas attack roughly a week and a half before the October 7, 2023, attack, according to investigative reporting published by the opposition newspaper Haaretz and detailed by international outlets including NOS Nieuws. The UAE leader allegedly placed a 45-minute phone call to Netanyahu to warn that Hamas leader Sinwar was preparing a massive operation, a claim that Netanyahu’s office has dismissed as an “absolute leugen” (absolute lie).
The Warning from the UAE President
According to interviews conducted by journalists with dozens of sources in Israel and abroad—including high-ranking officials and a Palestinian adviser to Bin Zayed—the sequence of warnings began in September 2023. Hamas leader Sinwar met with a Fatah functionary, referred to by journalists as “Coal Eyes,” and expressed frustration over stalled talks between Israel and Hamas. Sinwar warned the Fatah official to tell Israelis to expect a massive surprise, using the term “zilal” or earthquake, and described an upcoming “fearful operation,” according to the Palestinian adviser cited in the source material.
Alarmed by the rhetoric, “Coal Eyes” chose to share the intelligence with UAE President Bin Zayed rather than Israeli security services directly, fearing accusations of collusion with Sinwar. Bin Zayed reportedly urged the Fatah official to reconfirm Sinwar’s intentions. Once Sinwar doubled down on the threat, the Fatah official notified Israeli security services. When those services appeared to take little action, Bin Zayed intervened personally, calling Netanyahu to warn him that a major Hamas assault risked destabilizing the entire region, according to the source-grounded reporting.
Netanyahu’s Calm Response and Denial
Israeli President Herzog confirmed to the investigative authors that Bin Zayed expressed deep anxiety about a potential Hamas attack in the months leading up to the war. “He spoke here in the months preceding the war often with me,” Herzog said, adding that the emir felt the region was on the verge of exploding. Despite these repeated concerns, when Bin Zayed warned Netanyahu directly, the prime minister allegedly responded calmly, insisting that Israel was prepared for any scenario.
Netanyahu’s office has firmly denied that the phone call ever occurred, branding the report an absolute lie. The fallout from the Haaretz publication arrives at a politically sensitive juncture, with Israel heading to the polls in seven weeks. Opposition campaigns have consistently targeted Netanyahu over responsibility for the security failures of October 7, when nearly 1,200 people were killed and 251 hostages were taken to the Gaza Strip. While Netanyahu has largely blamed the military and intelligence apparatus for the failures, critics argue that ignoring direct foreign warnings compounds his accountability.
Did you know?
The Israeli military concluded in a post-war assessment that it had fundamentally misjudged Hamas’s intentions for years, operating under the assumption that the militant group was not interested in launching a large-scale war. Furthermore, The New York Times previously revealed that Israeli authorities possessed a detailed operational blueprint of the October 7 attack over a year before it occurred.
Political Fallout and Historical Intelligence Gaps
Middle East correspondent David Poort notes that the timing of the Haaretz investigation is designed to amplify pressure on the prime minister as election campaigns ramp up. Much of the Israeli public has demanded an independent commission of inquiry into the security lapses of October 7—an investigation Netanyahu has consistently resisted. The core political question is whether these new revelations regarding foreign warnings will erode support among loyalists within the Likud party.
The reporting aligns with previous findings showing that Israeli intelligence possessed concrete indicators of Hamas’s operational plans well before the attack. Despite having access to detailed documents outlining the assault, military leadership failed to act on signals gathered even on the day before the invasion. As political scrutiny intensifies ahead of the upcoming elections, the debate over who knew what—and when—remains a central fault line in Israeli politics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who reportedly warned Benjamin Netanyahu about the Hamas attack?
According to the Haaretz investigation, United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu during a 45-minute phone call approximately a week and a half before October 7, 2023.
How has Benjamin Netanyahu responded to these claims?
Netanyahu’s office has strongly denied the report, calling the alleged phone call an “absolute leugen” (absolute lie).
What did Israeli President Isaac Herzog confirm regarding the UAE’s warnings?
President Isaac Herzog confirmed to the authors that Bin Zayed frequently spoke with him in the months leading up to the war, expressing deep concern that the region was on the brink of an explosion due to a potential Hamas offensive.
What prior intelligence did Israel have regarding the October 7 attack?
Previous reporting by The New York Times established that Israeli authorities obtained a detailed Hamas battle plan outlining an invasion more than a year before it occurred, though officials did not know the exact timing.
Want to stay informed on developing stories in the Middle East? Subscribe to our newsletter or explore our archives for more in-depth reporting. Leave a comment below to share your perspective on these latest political developments.
Related reading