Full Breakdown
UAE and Egyptian Leaders Warned Netanyahu of Imminent Hamas Attack
9/8/2026, 10:49:34 AM
Core Event: Direct Warnings Prior to October 7
Investigations for *Hostages: 843 Days of Abandonment* report that UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ) called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about ten days before the October 7 operation and warned that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing a major offensive. The call lasted roughly 45 minutes. Egyptian General Intelligence chief Abbas Kamel is also said to have warned Netanyahu of “something unusual, a terrifying operation” planned by Hamas. Netanyahu replied that Israel was “prepared in Gaza” and that any Hamas activity was more likely in the West Bank.
Background & Context
Sinwar’s threat was first relayed in mid-September through a Palestinian intermediary who used the Arabic term “zilzal” (earthquake) and described the plan as “the mother of all surprises.” The warning reached the UAE president, who conveyed it to an adviser and then to Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, who briefed Netanyahu on September 15. A security meeting two days later produced no decisive action. The same period saw indirect Israeli-Hamas talks on prisoner exchanges stall, after which Sinwar cut off contact with the channel.
Timeline
- September 15 – Shin Bet receives Sinwar’s “zilzal” warning and passes it to Netanyahu.
- Late September (?10 days before October 7) – MBZ contacts Netanyahu for a 45-minute conversation, reiterating the Hamas threat.
- Around the same time – Abbas Kamel contacts Netanyahu with a similar warning.
- October 1 – Netanyahu holds a discussion on Gaza and Hamas; he does not mention either warning.
- October 7 – Hamas launches the large-scale operation that resulted in extensive casualties.
Official Statements & Responses
The Prime Minister’s Office rejected the investigation, stating, “Prime Minister Netanyahu didn’t speak to the president of the UAE during the period in question and received no warning from him,” calling the claim an “absolute lie.” Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and former IDF chief Herzi Halevi also said they were never informed of the alleged UAE warning. The investigation notes that none of Israel’s senior security chiefs—including the heads of Shin Bet, Mossad, and the IDF—were briefed on the call.
Criticism & Opposition
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett, now head of the Yachad party, affirmed the report’s accuracy, saying Netanyahu “bears personal and direct responsibility” for the disaster and that his disregard of the warnings amounted to “criminal negligence.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Investigation vs. Government Denial – The book’s authors present recordings, documentation, and multiple senior sources confirming the warnings, while the Prime Minister’s Office categorically denies any such conversation.
- Security Chiefs’ Knowledge – Both Ronen Bar and Herzi Halevi state they did not receive the UAE warning, contradicting the claim that the warning was passed through official channels.
- Impact Assessment – A senior Shin Bet official suggested that, had the warning been shared widely, it could have altered Israel’s intelligence picture, but no concrete evidence links the warning to specific missed decisions.
