Egypt’s Warning to Israel
Cairo’s intelligence chief visited Tel Aviv shortly before October 7 with a dire message about Gaza.
On September 26, 2023, Israel commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasizing the importance of vigilance against threats. Two hours before Netanyahu's speech, an Egypt-linked aircraft arrived at Ben Gurion Airport, carrying Abbas Kamel, the Egyptian intelligence chief.
Kamel had been sent to Israel with a crucial warning: Hamas, aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood, was preparing for a large-scale attack. Sources indicate that Kamel urged Israel to grant economic concessions to Hamas to prevent disaster. The Egyptian delegation stayed for only 67 minutes before returning to Cairo. Despite the visit, Israeli officials have claimed they were unaware of Kamel's message, with Netanyahu's office denying any prior warnings.
The warning, however, should have prompted heightened alertness among Israeli leaders. The October 7 surprise attack resulted in over 1,200 casualties and 251 hostages abducted. The Netanyahu government's failure to heed the warning and adequately prepare for the attack has become a central issue in the upcoming Israeli elections.
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