A new report has raised fresh questions about the events leading up to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. According to information published on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly did not pass along a warning from the United Arab Emirates about a possible Hamas attack to Israel’s top security officials.
The report states that UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan contacted Netanyahu in late September 2023. During the conversation, the Emirati leader reportedly warned that Hamas could be planning a significant attack.
According to sources familiar with the discussion, the warning suggested that Hamas was considering major action. However, the information reportedly did not specify the exact nature of the threat or whether it would involve rocket attacks, ground operations or another form of assault.
The report said the warning was not shared with the heads of Israel’s security agencies. Several former senior Israeli officials told the publication that they were unaware of the information and that it never reached key members of the country’s security leadership.
Days after the reported conversation, Netanyahu held a meeting with senior security officials to discuss developments in Gaza. Meeting records reviewed by the publication reportedly showed that the prime minister did not mention the warning from the UAE during the discussions.
Instead, the meeting focused on maintaining stability in Gaza and avoiding actions that could increase tensions. According to the report, some security officials raised the possibility of targeting senior Hamas leaders. Netanyahu reportedly opposed those proposals at the time.
The meeting records indicated that Netanyahu believed military action could interfere with broader diplomatic goals. One major priority was ongoing efforts aimed at improving relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Before the October 2023 attack, diplomatic discussions involving Israel and Saudi Arabia had attracted significant international attention. Many observers viewed the talks as a potentially historic development for the region.
The report suggests that concerns about protecting those diplomatic efforts may have influenced decision-making during the period leading up to the attack.
Earlier this month, Israeli media reported claims that the UAE president had issued a warning before October 7. Netanyahu publicly denied receiving such a warning following those reports.
The latest report, however, cited additional sources and details regarding the alleged communication. According to the publication, Sheikh Mohammed later discussed the matter with then-CIA Director William Burns.
During that conversation, the UAE leader reportedly said he had informed Netanyahu about a potential threat involving Hamas in Gaza or the occupied West Bank before the attack took place.
The October 7 attack marked one of the most significant security failures in Israel’s history. Hamas fighters crossed into Israeli territory, leading to widespread violence and triggering a conflict that has had major consequences across the region.
Since then, questions about intelligence assessments, security preparedness and government decision-making have remained central topics in public debate.
Israeli officials and investigators have continued reviewing the events that occurred before the attack. Multiple inquiries have examined whether warning signs were missed and how information was handled in the weeks leading up to the assault.
The latest report adds another element to those discussions by focusing on an alleged warning from a foreign leader and how it was managed within the Israeli government.
Neither the UAE nor Israeli officials immediately issued detailed public comments regarding the latest claims. As a result, attention remains focused on the reported meeting records and the accounts provided by former officials familiar with the matter.
The allegations are likely to increase scrutiny of decision-making before October 7 as investigations continue. They also highlight the complex intelligence and diplomatic environment that existed in the region during the weeks before the attack.
With debates over accountability still ongoing, the report has added new questions about what information was available before the Hamas assault and how that information was handled by senior leaders.
