Full Breakdown
UAE Warning, Netanyahu’s Denial, and the Legal Battle Ahead
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
A report in *Haaretz* based on a forthcoming book alleges that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about ten days before the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas onslaught and warned that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning a major operation. Netanyahu’s office called the story an “absolute lie” and announced a defamation lawsuit against *Haaretz* and its journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval.
Background & Context
The alleged warning fits a pattern of intelligence alerts that surfaced before Oct. 7. Israeli Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar is reported to have briefed Netanyahu on a “zilzal” (earthquake) warning from Sinwar on Sept. 15. On Oct. 1, Netanyahu met IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi for further cautions. Egyptian intelligence also warned Israel of a “something big” shortly before the attack. The *Haaretz* investigation links the UAE warning to a chain that began with Sinwar’s message to a Fatah intermediary, which reached an adviser to bin Zayed, who then placed the call.
Timeline
- Sept. 15, 2023 – Shin Bet receives Sinwar’s warning.
- Sept. 23, 2023 – *Haaretz* claims bin Zayed contacts Netanyahu.
- Oct. 1, 2023 – Netanyahu meets IDF chief Herzi Halevi.
- Oct. 7, 2023 – Hamas launches the deadliest attack in Israeli history, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
- Sept. 9, 2023 – Netanyahu announces a libel suit against *Haaretz*.
Data & Statistics
- Oct. 7 casualties: roughly 1,200 Israeli civilians killed and 251 hostages taken.
- Subsequent Gaza war: the Hamas-run health ministry reports more than 73,600 Palestinian deaths.
Official Statements & Responses
The Prime Minister’s Office said a review of call logs found no trace of a conversation with the Emirati president. The UAE Foreign Ministry declined to confirm or deny the alleged call, stating that “when necessary, all relevant intelligence has been and continue to be communicated between the relevant entities.” *Haaretz* stands by its reporting, citing recordings, documents and senior sources.
Criticism & Opposition
Opposition leaders have seized on the report as evidence of Netanyahu’s alleged negligence. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett called the alleged disregard for the warning “criminal negligence” and said Netanyahu “bears personal and direct responsibility” for the deaths. Democrats party leader Yair Golan accused Netanyahu of “criminal abandonment,” demanding an investigation into why the warning was not passed to security chiefs.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Netanyahu received dozens of warnings for Oct. 7 and ignored them all. He is unfit,” — Naftali Bennett
- “When necessary, all relevant intelligence has been and continue to be communicated between the relevant entities.” — UAE Foreign Ministry
What’s Next
The libel suit is expected to be filed in the coming days, with the legal process unlikely to conclude before the Oct. 27 election. Opposition parties have pledged to push for an independent commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 security failures if they form the next government. The outcome of the lawsuit and any subsequent investigations will shape the final weeks of the campaign.