Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday to ask President Mohamed bin Zayed to deny that he had warned Israel of a major Hamas operation ahead of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, according to the Associated Press [1]. The AP report, published Monday, cited a person said to have firsthand information about the meeting and a second regional official briefed on the meeting [1].
The UAE and Netanyahu's office have since confirmed the visit. Emirati state news agency WAM said the leaders discussed bilateral relations, while Netanyahu's office said the talks focused on strengthening ties and regional challenges [1]. Netanyahu's office has denied that the visit was intended to obtain a denial from bin Zayed [1].
The UAE has neither confirmed nor denied the alleged warning. Its Foreign Ministry said it does not comment on reports concerning conversations between government leaders, while noting that Abu Dhabi and Israel maintain open and direct lines of communication and share relevant intelligence when necessary [1]. Emirati state news agency WAM reported that the leaders discussed bilateral relations, without mentioning the warning claim [2].
Warning Claim First Reported by Haaretz
Haaretz reported earlier this month that bin Zayed called Netanyahu about ten days before the Oct. 7 assault and warned that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning a major operation [3]. The Emirati leader reportedly warned that it could lead to bloodshed and destabilize the region [4]. Netanyahu reportedly played down the threat, saying Israel was prepared and that an attack was more likely to come from the occupied West Bank [1].
Netanyahu's office has rejected the Haaretz report as an absolute lie, insisting no such conversation took place [4]. The Israeli prime minister said such a call would have left verifiable documentation, and a thorough investigation has not found a trace of it [5]. He has ordered his lawyers to take legal action against Haaretz, journalist Shlomi Eldar, and other individuals [6].
The BBC reported that, according to book extracts published by Haaretz, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had a phone call with Netanyahu that September [7]. The report said Netanyahu was warned that the then-Hamas chief in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, was planning an operation [7]. The newspaper said it stood by its reporting [7].
UAE Declines to Confirm or Deny Warning
The UAE Foreign Ministry said it does not comment on reports concerning conversations between government leaders [1]. The ministry noted that Abu Dhabi and Israel maintain open and direct lines of communication and share relevant intelligence when necessary [1]. Emirati state news agency WAM reported that the leaders discussed bilateral relations, without mentioning the warning claim [2].
Netanyahu's office said the visit focused on strengthening ties and regional challenges, and denied the purpose was to obtain a denial [1]. The office called the Haaretz report false, stating that no warning was given to the prime minister from the UAE before Oct. 7 [8].
The visit followed reports that bin Zayed warned Netanyahu of a Hamas operation before Oct. 7, according to Middle East Eye [2]. The UAE has officially acknowledged hosting Netanyahu for talks with bin Zayed on Sunday, its first such acknowledgment [2].
Scrutiny Ahead of October 27 Elections
Netanyahu has faced growing scrutiny over reports that Israel received other warnings in the run-up to the Hamas-led incursion, which killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage [1]. Families of Israelis killed or abducted in the attack unveiled a 12-page dossier arguing the massacre was the culmination of a years-long policy that allowed Hamas to strengthen [1].
The controversy comes ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for Oct. 27. Netanyahu has described reports about the alleged UAE warning as politically motivated and linked them to the election campaign [1]. The revelations seriously undermine key narratives used to justify U.S. and broader international support for what ultimately became a devastating war, according to The New American [12].
Haaretz's investigation also found that Israel rejected an early Hamas offer to release civilian hostages shortly after the attack [12]. The report said Netanyahu received an explicit warning that Hamas was preparing a major attack before Oct. 7, then withheld it from Israel's security chiefs [12].
References
- RT. "Netanyahu asked UAE to cover up prior October 7 knowledge – media". RT. September 28, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. "UAE confirms Netanyahu visit for first time, with no mention of regional wars". Middle East Eye. September 29, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. "UAE president 'personally told Netanyahu' of Hamas plans for major attack ahead of 7 October". Middle East Eye. September 8, 2026.
- Just the News. "UAE warned Netanyahu Hamas was planning major offensive days before Oct. 7 attack: report". Just the News. September 9, 2026.
- Just the News. "Netanyahu threatens lawsuit over report claiming he was warned about Oct. 7: 'sinister libel'". Just the News. September 9, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. "Netanyahu threatens legal action over Haaretz report on UAE warning before 7 October". Middle East Eye. September 9, 2026.
- BBC. "Israel's Netanyahu to sue newspaper over claim UAE warned him of 7 October attack". BBC. September 10, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. "Netanyahu office denies reports he received warning from UAE over 7 October 2023 attack". Middle East Eye. September 8, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. "The Atlantic: Egypt's intelligence chief had warned Israel of Hamas attack". Middle East Eye. September 26, 2026.
- RT. "Netanyahu 'concealed' warnings of Oct. 7 Hamas attack – former IDF chief". RT. September 14, 2026.
- The Times of Israel. "Gallant pans Netanyahu's 'atmosphere of defeatism' in days after Oct. 7 massacre". The Times of Israel. September 10, 2026.
- The New American. "Haaretz: Netanyahu Ignored October 7 Warnings, Rejected Early Hostage Offer". The New American. September 10, 2026.
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