Netanyahu faces fresh October 7 warning allegations as election pressure builds

A fresh report has intensified scrutiny of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over claims that he was warned before the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack. According to the latest account, Egypt's intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, is said to have phoned Netanyahu days before the assault, adding to earlier media reports that the United Arab Emirates also issued a warning in the week before the attack. The allegations have emerged as Israel heads towards a parliamentary election on October 27, keeping the issue of security failures at the centre of the campaign.

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The report says Kamel had also travelled to Israel in September 2023 to warn security officials in person that Hamas was planning an attack. Neither Kamel nor the Egyptian government has commented on the claims. Netanyahu has denied receiving any warning and has sued over the allegations, while the UAE foreign ministry has said it does not comment on media reports or speculation about conversations between government leaders.

The dispute has become politically significant because the October 7 attacks killed 1,139 people in Israel and remain a defining issue for voters. Questions over who knew what before the assault have continued to shape debate over responsibility for the security failures that preceded the war in Gaza. Netanyahu has also tried to shift blame onto Ronen Bar, the former head of Israel's internal security service, who said on Monday that he would sue the prime minister for defamation.

The controversy matters now because it combines election politics with unresolved questions about one of the most consequential security failures in Israel's recent history. Netanyahu is under pressure not only over the attack itself, but also over how his government has handled the political fallout. The renewed focus on alleged warnings has kept public attention on the chain of events before October 7 and on the competing narratives now being used in the election campaign.

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The row also reflects the wider sensitivity of security claims in Israeli politics, where warnings from regional partners can quickly become part of domestic debate. Earlier reports this month suggested that UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had warned Netanyahu that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning the assault. Those claims, together with the new report about Egypt, have deepened the argument over whether the prime minister ignored or disputes advance intelligence.

What remains unclear is whether any further official confirmation will emerge from Egypt, the UAE or Israeli authorities. It is also not known whether the legal disputes now under way will produce new evidence before the vote. For now, the issue is likely to remain a live campaign fault line as parties compete over security, accountability and public trust.

Israel's opposition leader Yair Lapid has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of fear-mongering after the prime minister warned that the country's enemies may try to attack before next month's general election. The dispute comes less than a month before the vote, which is scheduled for 7 October. Lapid said there was no reason to panic the public and insisted the election would go ahead on time.

Netanyahu delivered his warning in an online video filmed at a military base, where he appeared in front of a fighter jet. He said there were indications that, ahead of the election, enemies would try to attack Israel, but he did not name any specific group. In recent weeks, he has issued warnings to Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Palestinian Authority, and has promised retaliation if Israel is attacked.

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Lapid, who leads the Yesh Atid party, said he requested an urgent security briefing after meeting Netanyahu on Tuesday. In a post after the meeting, he said he would not disclose details of the briefing, but argued that security threats must be handled professionally and responsibly. He also criticised Netanyahu for using military bases as props for campaign videos and for failing to heed warnings before the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023.

The exchange has political significance because the election will be Israel's first since the 2023 attacks, which triggered war in Gaza and widened into fighting involving Lebanon and Iran. Netanyahu is Israel's longest-serving leader and is seeking to remain in power after a period that has reshaped the country's security and political landscape. Lapid and other centrist rivals are presenting themselves as an alternative after years of crisis and conflict.

The row also reflects the sensitivity of security messaging during an election campaign in Israel, where warnings about external threats can quickly become part of domestic political debate. Netanyahu has recently had to deny media reports that regional partners warned him of a possible Hamas attack, an allegation his political rivals have used to question his judgment. The latest dispute adds to scrutiny of how the government is framing security risks in the run-up to the vote.

What remains unclear is which enemy Netanyahu was referring to and whether any specific threat has been identified by officials. It is also not known whether the security briefing requested by Lapid will lead to any public clarification. The main issue to watch is whether the argument over security warnings becomes a larger campaign issue before election day.

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