Netanyahu under fire over report he ignored UAE's Oct 7 warning
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Opposition leaders in Israel are criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alleging he failed to heed a warning from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The Haaretz newspaper, citing a forthcoming book, revealed that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan informed Netanyahu a week prior that Hamas was planning a major operation.
Netanyahu's office, however, denied the report, stating no warning was given to him before the attack. The UAE's Foreign Affairs Ministry acknowledged open lines of communication but declined to comment on the media speculation. Former military commander Gadi Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of evading responsibility for security lapses, while former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called him personally and directly responsible for the deaths on October 7, the deadliest attack in Israeli history.
Centre-left Democrats Party leader Yair Golan accused Netanyahu of endangering Israel. Opposition parties have vowed to establish an independent inquiry into security lapses if they win the upcoming elections. Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar had reportedly warned of a "terrifying operation," which was relayed to an Emirati adviser and eventually communicated to Netanyahu, who reportedly responded calmly to the warning.
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