Warning ten days before the attack: Netanyahu called new accusations 'absolute lies'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu categorically rejected the claim that he was warned about a large-scale operation being prepared by Hamas ten days before the attack on October 7, 2023, reports the New York Post. The new accusations were reported by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, citing the book by journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval, "Kidnapped: 843 Days of Abandonment." According to the authors, the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, allegedly personally contacted Netanyahu ten days before the attack. It is claimed that during the conversation, he warned the Israeli Prime Minister about the preparation of a major operation against Israel by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. The journalists state that UAE officials were concerned that Hamas's actions could "destabilize the entire region." To support their version, the authors of the book refer to high-ranking officials, audio recordings, internal documents, correspondence, and a close advisor to the UAE president. Netanyahu's office firmly denied this information. Representatives of the Israeli Prime Minister called it "absolute lies" and emphasized that the described phone conversation did not take place. The publication appeared a few weeks before the nationwide elections in Israel. Netanyahu continues to face serious political pressure due to the events of October 7, the war in the Gaza Strip, and the conflict with Iran. The claims by Eldar and Yuval resonate with earlier reports that Israel may have received warnings from other sources. After the attack, some American lawmakers stated that Egyptian intelligence had also informed the Israeli side about the possible preparation of a terrorist operation a few days before the attack. However, the question of how specific such warnings were and to whom they were conveyed remains a matter of debate. On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing more than 1,200 people. Another 251 individuals were captured and taken to the Gaza Strip. The attack led to the onset of a large-scale war. After the tragedy, leaders of the Israeli armed forces and intelligence agencies began to resign, acknowledging responsibility for the failures that preceded the attack. Netanyahu did not resign. There have been repeated calls in Israel to establish a state commission to determine the causes of the incident and assign responsibility to the political and military leadership. However, the Prime Minister opposes conducting an investigation in that format. The story of the alleged call from the UAE president adds a new episode to the ongoing debates about whether Israeli leadership had information about the planned attack. While the authors of the book insist on the credibility of their sources, Netanyahu's office completely denies not only the content of the warning but also the very fact of the conversation.