Netanyahu asked UAE leader to publicly deny 7 October 2023 warning to Israel: Report

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu journeyed to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, aiming to debunk claims he had received advanced warnings from Arab nations about the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, according to a report by the Associated Press. During an "hour-long" meeting with Emirati President Mohamed bin Zayed, Netanyahu's objective was to deny Haaretz's report that he had been warned Gaza was preparing a major operation.

The UAE leader also urged Netanyahu to explore an economic solution for the impoverished Gaza Strip and to attempt easing tensions in the West Bank, where Israeli settlers have long targeted Palestinians and expanded unauthorized settlements. Netanyahu's visit to the UAE follows just one month before Israel's upcoming elections that could mark the end of his rule.

Opposition parties have united to challenge Netanyahu, while domestic tensions include the prohibition of two Arab-majority political lists from participating in the election by the Central Elections Committee. Israel's Supreme Court can overturn this decision. Netanyahu has been criticized for alleged negligence in responding to warnings about Hamas's preparations for the attack, with Republican Congressman Michael McCaul stating that Egypt had warned Israel three days prior to the assault.

Despite this, both The Wall Street Journal and The Atlantic have recently revisited this story, naming Abbas Kamel, Egypt's former intelligence chief, as the conduit between Netanyahu and UAE. Netanyahu and his administration have consistently refuted these allegations. Following Haaretz's September report, Netanyahu attempted to undermine it by claiming Mohammed Dahlan as the source.

Dahlan is an exiled Palestinian politician allied with the UAE and a potential future Gaza ruler in an Emirati-backed proposal. The UAE and Israel maintain close ties in military and intelligence affairs, but tensions have surfaced over Netanyahu's management of the relationship. In May, the UAE's foreign ministry dismissed Netanyahu's claims of a secret meeting with the president during the Iran conflict.

Any assertions of unannounced meetings or undisclosed arrangements are deemed unfounded unless officially confirmed by UAE authorities. Netanyahu's office claimed the meeting marked a "historic breakthrough" in relations between the two nations.