Public disputes concerning the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, including prior warnings, security decisions, and subsequent accounts of responsibility.
Haaretz reported that United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed directly warned Benjamin Netanyahu about ten days before October 7, 2023 that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing a major operation. Netanyahu and his office categorically deny that the reported call or warning occurred and say official record checks found no supporting documentation. Reporter Shlomi Eldar says he possesses documents, records, and confidential-source evidence supporting the account, but those materials have not been made public. Naftali Bennett says he knows the report is true; other opposition leaders demand an investigation. The UAE government has declined to confirm or deny the alleged conversation.
Was Netanyahu warned by the UAE about a major Hamas operation before October 7?
"It is difficult to know how events would have developed if Netanyahu had acted and the security establishment had received the information."
Why we used this label
His response criticizes the failure to transmit the alleged information but expressly avoids claiming that action would certainly have prevented the attack.
Role at the time: Former IDF chief of staff and Yashar party leader
Mixed or conditional
Responding to
If Netanyahu received the reported warning and failed to alert security leaders or take action, that failure constituted extraordinary or criminal negligence.
"If the publication is true, it represents a serious breach of public trust."
Why we used this label
His response combines categorical political criticism with an explicit condition concerning the truth of the newly reported call.
Dimitri Diliani is a Palestinian political figure and spokesperson for the Fatah Reform Democratic faction associated with Mohammed Dahlan. He comments publicly on Palestinian politics and relations with Israel.
