UAE warned Netanyahu about Hamas's October 7 attack several days in advance — Media

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The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, directly informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2023 that the Hamas group was preparing a major attack.

The UAE President informed Netanyahu 10 days before the attack that Hamas's leader in Gaza at the time, Yahya Sinwar, was planning an operation. Mohamed bin Zayed stated that this situation would lead to bloodshed, destabilize the region, and undermine the "Abraham Accords."

Nevertheless, according to the Haaretz publication, Netanyahu reacted calmly to this information. He told the UAE President that Israel was prepared for any situation and that a potential attack was more likely to come from the occupied West Bank.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants killed nearly 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Since then, hundreds of Israelis, mostly military personnel, have died in the wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.

Netanyahu's office called this report absolutely false. The office stated that Netanyahu did not speak with the UAE President during the specified period and received no warning from him.

Netanyahu has been refusing to conduct an official state inquiry into the events of October 7. His office added that necessary information was being delivered through UAE intelligence channels.

Parliamentary elections will be held in Israel in October. The events of October 7 have become the main topic of the election campaign. Netanyahu's main opponent, former general Gadi Eisenkot, accused the prime minister of ignoring dozens of warnings about the Hamas attack, assessing him as unfit for office.

Another opponent, Naftali Bennett, stated that the responsibility for the failure that led to the deaths of thousands of Israelis lies with Netanyahu. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, more than 73,650 Palestinians have been killed so far as a result of Israel's military operations in Gaza.

The decision was made against the backdrop of US pressure to put an end to attacks on Palestinians. It is currently unknown when the demolition work will begin.