Full Breakdown
Netanyahu’s Secret UAE Visit Amid Alleged Pre-Oct 7 Hamas Warnings
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Secret Trip to Abu Dhabi and Request for Denial
In late September 2023 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a clandestine flight to Abu Dhabi. According to multiple sources, the purpose was to ask United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to publicly deny media reports that he had warned Netanyahu of an imminent Hamas attack. The meeting, confirmed by both the Israeli prime-minister’s office and the UAE’s official news agency, lasted about an hour and was described by Israeli officials as focusing on “bilateral relations” rather than security matters. Netanyahu’s entourage included his wife Sara, Mossad director Roman Gofman, National Security Council head Shmuel Ben-Ezra, and senior Shin Bet officials.
Background & Context: Prior Intelligence Alerts and Election Stakes
Weeks before the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas assault, Israeli media reported that the UAE president had privately alerted Netanyahu to a “major attack” being planned by Hamas. The Atlantic and Haaretz also cited an Egyptian intelligence warning delivered by Abbas Kamel, head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service, during a brief visit on Sep. 26, 2023. Netanyahu has repeatedly denied receiving any such alerts, arguing that any intelligence from the UAE would have been routed through Israel’s own agencies. The controversy has become a focal point of the national election scheduled for Oct. 27, with opponents accusing the prime minister of concealing failures that contributed to the Oct. 7 tragedy.
Official Statements & Responses
- Netanyahu’s office: Rejected the claim that the UAE president warned him, labeling the allegation an “absolute lie” and announcing plans to file a libel lawsuit. The prime minister also posted on X that he never met or spoke with Abbas Kamel in the months before Oct. 7 and that no Israeli intelligence official conveyed an Egyptian warning.
- A spokesperson for *The National* added that heads of state do not discuss such matters at the level of national leaders.
- Israeli security establishment: Minutes from the Oct. 1 meeting indicate that Netanyahu emphasized preserving calm in Gaza to protect a prospective Saudi-Israel normalization deal, while some officials advocated pre-emptive strikes against senior Hamas figures.
- Egyptian officials: On Oct. 11, 2023 Egypt officially denied having warned Israel of the Oct. 7 attack, a statement echoed by the Israeli prime-minister’s office.
Criticism & Opposition
The alleged suppression of foreign warnings has fueled public outrage. On Sep. 28, 2026, demonstrators gathered at Habima Square, chanting that “everyone is lying” and demanding transparency. Families of victims have accused the political leadership of a cover-up, arguing that repeated alerts were ignored.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- UAE warning: The New York Times, Haaretz, and several Israeli officials cite a 45-minute call in which Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed warned of a Hamas operation; Netanyahu’s office and the UAE foreign ministry deny that such a direct warning occurred.
- Egyptian warning: Some outlets report that Abbas Kamel warned Israel on Sep. 26, 2023, while Egyptian and Israeli officials later labeled the claim “fake news.”
- Transmission of intelligence: Former senior Israeli officials say the alleged UAE warning never reached Israel’s security chiefs, whereas Israeli officials maintain that any foreign intelligence would be processed through established channels.
What’s Next
Legal actions are pending: Netanyahu has announced intent to sue media outlets he deems responsible for the allegations, while the UAE foreign ministry has refrained from further comment. The Oct. 27 election will test whether the controversy influences voter sentiment, and any court rulings on the libel claims could set precedents for future reporting on national security matters.