Egypt’s Top Spy Warned Israel Before October 7
The Atlantic staff writer Vivian Salama tells Radio Atlantic that the messenger was the message.
In the weeks preceding October 7, 2023, Egypt's chief intelligence officer was dispatched to Israel to deliver a grave warning concerning Hamas's preparations for a significant attack. According to sources, Cairo's intelligence chief advised Israeli authorities to extend leniency towards Hamas in order to forestall potential conflict.
However, it remains uncertain whether Israeli officials acted upon this information, three years after the most devastating surprise assault in Israeli history. Vivian Salama, an Atlantic staff writer, recounts the story for Radio Atlantic, revealing that the incident took place on September 26, 2023, precisely two days before the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, an event that Egypt and Syria had launched a surprise attack on Israel.
During the commemoration, the Egyptian intelligence chief arrived at Ben-Gurion Airport on a small Cessna jet, remaining at the restricted area for just 67 minutes. This brief visit triggered immediate suspicions among Israeli officials, who viewed it as an ominous sign of impending danger. The Egyptian intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, met with Israeli security officials, sharing alarming information about the mobilization of Hamas forces.
Multiple sources corroborate this account, including the UAE president, Mohamed bin Zayed, who also communicated with Israeli authorities about potential threats. These warnings, along with two written cables from Egypt, collectively suggest that Israel was aware of the impending crisis. Despite the gravity of the warnings, it remains unclear if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received the intelligence before the attack unfolded.
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