Netanyahu was warned of 7 October Hamas attacks, book claims
Israeli PM says allegation that UAE president alerted him more than a week before major offensive is ‘absolute lie’
TL;DR
- A book by Haaretz reporters alleges that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan warned Benjamin Netanyahu about a planned Hamas offensive a week and a half before the October 7, 2023 attack.
- Netanyahu has denied the report, calling it an "absolute lie" and disputing that such a conversation took place.
- Israeli opposition leaders have reacted strongly, with some stating Netanyahu is "unfit" for office and demanding an investigation into his actions.
- The Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was later killed, was reportedly warned by a former Palestinian official that militants were preparing "a terrifying operation."
- Hamas militants killed over 1,200 people and took 251 hostages in the October 7 attack; Israel's retaliatory offensive has caused widespread destruction in Gaza and killed over 73,000 Palestinians.