New Book Claims UAE President Warned Netanyahu of Hamas Attack Days Before October 7

A new book by journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval, titled Hostages: 843 Days of Abandonment, claims that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received an explicit warning about a major planned operation by Yahya Sinwar just a week and a half before the October 7, 2023, massacre.

This investigation joins a previous report by Yedioth Ahronoth journalist Smadar Peri from the early days of the war, which claimed Egypt had also warned Benjamin Netanyahu of "something terrible" days before the attack.

The Warning Chain

According to Shlomi Eldar, the chain of events began during indirect normalization and prisoner exchange talks mediated by the Shin Bet with Hamas and Fatah representatives. The talks aimed to secure the release of four Israelis: the bodies of Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, and captives Hisham al-Sayed and Avera Mengistu.

When negotiations stalled in early September 2023, Yahya Sinwar went off the radar. He then reportedly contacted a Fatah representative, telling him:

"Tell the Israelis that I am planning a big surprise for them if they do not move forward."

During this exchange, Yahya Sinwar used the Arabic word Zilzal (earthquake) for the first time. The panicked Fatah representative conveyed the message to a close associate, who currently serves as an advisor to the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Yahya Sinwar reiterated the warning a second time to ensure it reached Israel.

The 45-Minute Phone Call

On September 15, 2023, then-Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar received this intelligence and passed it to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A week and a half later, Mohamed bin Zayed wanted to verify that Benjamin Netanyahu had received the message.

According to the investigation, the UAE President contacted Benjamin Netanyahu via a secure, custom-built communication application. An embassy representative arrived with a dedicated device to facilitate the 45-minute call. During the conversation, Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly tried to reassure Mohamed bin Zayed, stating:

"We are prepared in Gaza."

Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly assessed that if any security escalation occurred, it would take place in the West Bank rather than Gaza. Following the call, Benjamin Netanyahu did not brief then-IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, or Mossad director David Barnea.

Official Denials and Political Reactions

The Prime Minister's Office issued a statement strongly denying the claims:

"An absolute lie. Prime Minister Netanyahu did not speak with the President of the UAE during the period in question and received no warning from him."

Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and former Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi both stated they were never briefed on any warning from the UAE President.

However, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who recently met with Mohamed bin Zayed, claimed the report is accurate:

"The report that Netanyahu was warned ten days before the October 7 massacre about Sinwar's intentions is true. Netanyahu bears direct personal responsibility for the failure. His disregard for the warnings is criminal negligence."

Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the "Yashar!" party, also reacted sharply to the report:

"More and more signs indicate that Netanyahu led Israel blindly into the October 7 failure. He received dozens of warnings and ignored them all. He is unfit."

Gadi Eisenkot pledged that the next government would establish a state commission of inquiry to investigate the political and security failures of the past decade.