New revelations over October 7 warnings intensify pressure on Netanyahu
Fresh revelations about warnings allegedly received before Hamas's 7 October attack have intensified political pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Reports published over the weekend said additional foreign and intelligence alerts reached him before the assault, adding to an already volatile debate over responsibility for the security failures that preceded the war. The disclosures have landed during Israel's election campaign and shortly after Netanyahu used a speech at the United Nations to defend his record.
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According to the reports, the New York Times confirmed an earlier account that United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed secretly warned Netanyahu about the planned attack, and that the warning was not passed on to security officials. The Atlantic separately reported that Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel visited Israel 11 days before the attack to warn of a significant Hamas operation. On Sunday, former defence minister Yoav Gallant said on Israeli Army Radio that Hamas had also sent a message through Shin Bet channels weeks before the attack, in which then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar said he would "shake the prisons".
The prime minister's office has repeatedly denied the media reports, calling them false. Haaretz reported that the UAE president allegedly warned Netanyahu in a 45-minute call 10 days before the attack, and that Netanyahu responded calmly and said Israel was prepared for any scenario. Netanyahu's office rejected that account and said no warning was given by the United Arab Emirates before 7 October.
The competing claims have become part of a wider argument over what Israeli leaders knew, when they knew it, and how they responded. The issue matters because the 7 October attack remains one of the most politically sensitive events in Israel's recent history. Netanyahu's handling of the attack is already a central issue in the election campaign, and the new reports are likely to deepen scrutiny of his leadership.
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Opposition figures have called for an investigation into the warnings allegedly received before the assault and whether they were ignored or not properly shared. The timing, coming after a high-profile UN speech, has also given the controversy added political weight. The revelations also highlight the role of regional and intelligence channels in the period before the attack.
The reports refer to contacts involving the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Israel's Shin Bet domestic security agency, suggesting that warnings may have circulated through more than one route. If confirmed, that would raise further questions about coordination between political leaders and security institutions in the days before the assault. It would also add to the debate over whether the threat from Hamas was underestimated despite signs of danger.
Netanyahu has faced sustained criticism over Israel's security failures since the attack, and the latest claims have revived that pressure at a sensitive moment. The election campaign is under way, and the handling of 7 October is expected to remain a major issue for voters. The reports have also sharpened attention on the relationship between the prime minister's office and the security establishment, including how warnings were handled and whether they were escalated appropriately.
What remains unclear is which warnings were received, by whom, and what action was taken after each one. The public record currently contains conflicting accounts from media reports, former officials and the prime minister's office. Further scrutiny is likely to focus on whether any formal investigation is launched and whether additional documents or testimony emerge.
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For now, the controversy is set to remain a live political issue as the campaign continues.
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