A warning about a possible Hamas attack reportedly had reached Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu days before the October 7, 2023, massacre. According to a September 2026 investigation, United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan warned Netanyahu that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing a major operation against Israel.
However, Netanyahu allegedly failed to inform Israel’s top security chiefs. The revelation has renewed questions about what the prime minister knew before the attack and how he handled the warning.
Netanyahu reportedly received Hamas attack warning before October 7
According to Haaretz, Bin Zayed called Netanyahu in late September 2023 for a 45-minute conversation. He warned that Sinwar was planning a major operation that could destabilize the region and threaten the Abraham Accords.
Bin Zayed also urged Netanyahu to ease tensions in Gaza and the West Bank. However, Netanyahu reportedly remained calm and said Israel was prepared for any scenario. He believed Hamas was planning an operation in the West Bank rather than Gaza.
Netanyahu did not share the Emirati president’s warning with Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, Mossad chief David Barnea, or IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. The investigation also traced the warning to a Palestinian intermediary known as Coal Eyes.
In September 2023, Sinwar reportedly told him to expect a “zilzal,” meaning an earthquake. The intermediary shared the message with a close adviser to bin Zayed. After investigating further, they reportedly passed the warning to the Shin Bet on September 15. Bar then briefed Netanyahu, and security officials held discussions on September 17.
Halutz accuses Netanyahu of withholding information
The Jerusalem Postreported that former IDF chief Dan Halutz believes Netanyahu knew more than he revealed. Halutz accused him of withholding information and said the prime minister bore ultimate responsibility for the failure. The report also revealed that Israel and Hamas had held secret negotiations in 2023.
The discussions focused on easing Gaza’s blockade, improving economic conditions, and exchanging four Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners. Netanyahu reportedly approved releasing 30 Palestinian prisoners in August. However, he repeatedly postponed the meeting needed to finalize the agreement.
Sinwar eventually cut off contact and warned of a major surprise. The New Yorker reported that Netanyahu also faced criticism over a separate warning from Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.
Qatar’s hostage release offer met with Israeli reluctance
Qatar offered to mediate the release of civilian hostages on October 7, as per the reports. Hamas later communicated its willingness to release civilians, but Israeli officials were initially unwilling to discuss the proposal. Former negotiator Doron Hadar argued that an early agreement could have secured their release. However, Netanyahu’s adviser, Ophir Falk, rejected his proposal.
The reports said that the opposition leader now demanded answers ahead of Israel’s upcoming election. Netanyahu’s office denied the Emirati conversation, calling the investigation an “absolute lie.” Former security chiefs Ronen Bar and Herzi Halevi also said they had not received the warning.