Story perspectives

Egypt and UAE warned Netanyahu of Hamas attack

By Drooid · Sep 30, 2026, 2:49 PM UTC · How we work

Center

Libel suit over warnings

Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of a Hamas attack before October 7 2023.
Netanyahu’s Likud party announced a NIS 2.6 million libel lawsuit against Haaretz, Yedioth Aharonoth, Channel 12 and several journalists over the warning reports.
A United Nations General Assembly speech showed Netanyahu’s defiant stance as Israel’s election campaign intensifies.
WSJ reported Kamel gave three warnings, one phone call to Netanyahu days before Oct 7.

Left

Ignored Emirati warning

Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel and Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of a Hamas attack before October 7, 2023.
Netanyahu ignored the warnings and failed to alert Israel’s security establishment.
The Wall Street Journal said Kamel called Netanyahu in early October to warn of an imminent assault.
Netanyahu denied ever meeting Kamel or receiving any Emirati warning before the Oct 7 assault.

History

Historical Context

On 6 October 1973 Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel, crossing the Suez Canal with roughly 32,000 infantry in Operation Badr. Israeli intelligence dismissed the warnings, spurring the Knesset to adopt the 1974 Intelligence Reform Act to tighten coordination. The reform’s legacy shapes today’s debate over missed pre-emptive alerts and intelligence accountability.

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Libel suit over warnings

Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of a Hamas attack before October 7 2023.
Netanyahu’s Likud party announced a NIS 2.6 million libel lawsuit against Haaretz, Yedioth Aharonoth, Channel 12 and several journalists over the warning reports.
A United Nations General Assembly speech showed Netanyahu’s defiant stance as Israel’s election campaign intensifies.
WSJ reported Kamel gave three warnings, one phone call to Netanyahu days before Oct 7.

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