Was Netanyahu warned about October 7?

Whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was directly warned prior to the October 7, 2023, attacks is a subject of intense controversy, with investigative reports alleging he was given explicit advance warning, while Netanyahu himself vehemently denies it.

A bombshell investigation published in September 2026 by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reveals that United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed personally called Netanyahu approximately 10 days before the attack. During a 45-minute call, the Emirati leader allegedly warned Netanyahu explicitly that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning a major operation against Israel that could destabilize the region. According to the report, Netanyahu dismissed the threat, incorrectly assessing that Hamas intended to focus its efforts on the West Bank. Following these revelations, Netanyahu strongly denied the claims, calling them an “absolute lie” and a politically motivated fabrication, and announced he is instructing his lawyers to file a libel lawsuit against Haaretz.

Key Findings and Perspectives

• The Emirati Warning Report: The Haaretz investigation, detailed in a book by journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruti Yuval, alleges that the UAE contacted Netanyahu directly after realizing Israeli intelligence was not reacting to initial signals. They state Netanyahu hid this warning and never updated his security chiefs.
• Netanyahu’s Libel Lawsuit: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) released statements asserting that no such communication took place and that phone records show no contact between Netanyahu and the UAE during September 2023. Netanyahu is actively suing the publication and the reporting journalist for defamation.
• The UAE’s Stance: The UAE Foreign Ministry declined to issue an official denial to back up Netanyahu’s inner circle. Officials conveyed that they will not interfere in Israeli domestic political debates or serve as a public relations wing, but noted that relevant intelligence is always passed through appropriate direct channels.
• Domestic Political Fallout: Coming shortly before crucial Israeli parliamentary elections, opposition leaders have heavily attacked Netanyahu. Rivals such as Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot declared him “unfit” to lead, accusing him of gross negligence and deflecting historical blame onto the security establishment.