Netanyahu under fire over report UAE warned of Oct 7 attack

Israeli opposition leaders have criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over reports that the United Arab Emirates had warned him about the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Haaretz newspaper, citing a forthcoming book, revealed that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had spoken to Netanyahu a week and a half before the attack, informing him that Hamas was planning a major operation.

However, Netanyahu’s office dismissed the report as an "absolute lie" and denied any conversation with the Emirati leader at that time. Gadi Eisenkot, a former military commander and Netanyahu’s top rival in upcoming elections, accused the prime minister of evading responsibility for security lapses and resorting to "pathetic" excuses.

Naftali Bennett, another former prime minister and election candidate, claimed Netanyahu bore "personal and direct responsibility" for the fatalities on October 7, the deadliest attack in Israeli history. Yair Golan, leader of the centre-left Democrats Party, accused Netanyahu of endangering Israel. The UAE and Israel normalized ties in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, a deal brokered by the United States.

Netanyahu has sought to maintain close relations with the UAE, viewing it as a significant achievement. The Hamas attack on October 7 resulted in 1,221 deaths and led Israel to launch a massive offensive that left Gaza in ruins, with over 73,000 casualties reported by the Gaza health ministry.