Full Breakdown
Egyptian Intelligence Chief’s Secret Visit to Israel Before the October 7 Attack
By Drooid · · How we work
The Secret Visit and Warning
On September 26, 2023 a chartered Cessna linked to Egypt’s General Intelligence Service landed in an isolated area of Ben Gurion Airport. The aircraft remained on the tarmac for 67 minutes before returning to Cairo, according to Israel Airports Authority flight logs and independent flight-tracking services. The passenger was identified as Abbas Kamel, then head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service and a close aide to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
The Atlantic’s investigation, citing officials briefed after the October 7 assault, reports that Kamel conveyed a warning that Hamas was preparing a major attack and that the window to prevent a disaster was closing. He is said to have urged Israel to grant economic concessions to Hamas to reduce the risk of escalation. The warning did not contain a specific date, target or operational detail.
Background: Tensions Ahead of October 7
Kamel’s arrival coincided with senior Israeli officials gathering in Jerusalem to mark the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War. At that ceremony, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that past intelligence failures should not be repeated. The same day, Israel approved limited economic concessions to Hamas, a move later referenced in the warning attributed to Kamel.
Flight Details and Timing
- Aircraft: Chartered Cessna tied to Egyptian intelligence.
- Landing site: Isolated sector of Ben Gurion Airport used for sensitive diplomatic missions.
- Ground time: 67 minutes (flight logs and tracking data).
- Return: Aircraft departed for Cairo after the brief stop.
Official Responses
- Egyptian side: An official told The Atlantic that Kamel’s personal trip signaled President Sisi’s belief that a direct message was necessary.
- Israeli government: The Prime Minister’s Office later labeled the investigation an “absolute lie” and threatened legal action against the reporting outlet. Netanyahu’s office also asserted that he had not spoken with the Egyptian intelligence chief since forming his government.
- National Security Council: National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi denied that Kamel visited Israel or delivered any warning.
- UAE involvement: Separate reporting noted that United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed also warned Netanyahu of a major Hamas operation in the days before October 7, though Netanyahu reportedly dismissed the concern as focused on the West Bank.
Criticism and Opposition
Netanyahu’s denial and the National Security Council’s refutation constitute the primary opposition to the claim that Kamel’s warning was received. Israeli officials argue that no senior meeting with the Egyptian intelligence chief took place, and that any alleged warning was “fake news” already debunked at the war’s outset. The Egyptian side maintains that the visit underscored the urgency of the threat.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Presence of Kamel: The Atlantic and seven foreign officials assert that Kamel was in Israel and delivered a warning; Hanegbi and Netanyahu’s office deny any such visit.
- Content of the warning: Sources agree Kamel warned of a looming Hamas attack but differ on whether he suggested specific economic concessions.
- Meeting details: It remains unclear which Israeli officials, if any, met Kamel during the hour-long stop. No concrete record of the meeting’s participants has been released.
Implications
If Kamel’s warning was indeed conveyed and not acted upon, the episode raises questions about intelligence sharing and decision-making within Israel’s security establishment prior to the October 7 assault. The divergent accounts also highlight the challenges of verifying diplomatic contacts that occur under secrecy, especially when political leaders publicly dispute the existence of such engagements.