A book by Haaretz reporters claims that United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan personally warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about a planned large-scale Hamas offensive roughly a week and a half before the 7 October 2023 attack. Netanyahu denied speaking with the Emirati leader at that time and called the allegation an “absolute lie.”
What the book says happened
The claim appears in Hostages: 843 Days of Abandonment, which its authors say is based on dozens of sources in Israel and abroad, including very senior officials. Haaretz reported that bin Zayed spoke with Netanyahu in a 45-minute call from the presidential palace in Abu Dhabi and warned that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing a major operation that could destabilise the region.
The report also says bin Zayed communicated frequently with senior Israeli leaders, including President Isaac Herzog, and that a UAE diplomat provided Netanyahu with a secure phone for the conversations. It says Sinwar had separately described the planned attack to a former Palestinian official as “a terrifying operation” and an “earthquake.”
Opposition demands answers
Several Israeli opposition party leaders said they would seek to establish what Netanyahu knew, when he knew it and what action he took. They questioned why any warning was not passed to Israel’s security establishment or used to protect civilians.
Gadi Eisenkot, a former military commander and Netanyahu’s main rival in the October elections, said the prime minister had received repeated warnings and was unfit for office. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Netanyahu bore personal and direct responsibility for the deaths during the attack, while Yair Golan accused him of endangering Israel.
Dispute over an inquiry
The allegations add to existing criticism of Netanyahu’s handling of the events preceding the attack. Hamas militants killed more than 1,200 people and took 251 hostages on 7 October 2023, according to the supplied account.
Many Israelis have called for an independent state commission to examine the security failures. Opposition parties say such a commission, with members appointed by the supreme court, would be their first priority if elected. Netanyahu’s government has rejected the proposal.
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