Haaretz Reports UAE Warned Netanyahu Before October 7

An investigation by Haaretz alleges that UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu roughly 10 days before the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that Yahya Sinwar was planning a major operation, a claim based on reporting by Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval. Netanyahu denies that the conversation or warning occurred, calls the report fabricated, and has threatened to sue Haaretz and the journalists involved. The allegations have intensified scrutiny of Netanyahu’s longstanding claim that he was not adequately alerted by Israeli security officials, with critics pointing to multiple written and in-person warnings issued before the attack. Hillary Clinton described the matter as a failure of leadership, while Netanyahu’s allies alleged that Palestinian politician Mohammed Dahlan helped promote the report; Dahlan’s faction denied the accusation and said it was an effort to divert attention from questions about Netanyahu’s responsibility. Opinion coverage also argues that Netanyahu’s earlier policy of facilitating Qatari cash transfers to Hamas contributed to the group’s growth, though that claim and the alleged UAE warning remain politically contested.