The Warning Benjamin Netanyahu Ignored
New reporting from Haaretz shows that, before October 7th, the Israeli Prime Minister was told to expect an “earthquake” from Gaza—and didn’t tell his security chiefs.
A new book authored by Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval reveals that just days before Hamas launched a devastating attack on Israel on October 7th, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the President of the United Arab Emirates, warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about a potential major event. During a 45-minute conversation, bin Zayed cautioned that Yahya Sinwar, Hamas's leader in Gaza, was "preparing a major event" in the near future.
Sinwar reportedly told a rival Fatah official that he was planning an "earthquake." Netanyahu, however, seemed unconcerned and assured bin Zayed that Israel was "prepared for any scenario." Disregarding the warning, Netanyahu did not inform Israel's security establishment about the conversation. In fact, he even claimed to bin Zayed that the volatile region was not Gaza but the West Bank.
Bin Zayed was so taken aback by Netanyahu's dismissive attitude that he expressed concerns to C.I.A. Director William J. Burns. While Netanyahu denies that such a conversation took place, the UAE's foreign ministry reportedly confirmed the journalists' findings, stating that the two countries maintain "open and direct communication."
Eldar and Yuval based their story on three independent sources and a recording of the conversation, as well as relevant documents.
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