Stories
Muslim Country Warned Netanyahu Twice, History Would Be Different If He Had Listened
- •Egypt warned Israel about increasing activities in Gaza and a potential major attack before the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault, but the warnings were not taken seriously.
- •The Wall Street Journal reported that Egypt's intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, contacted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office regarding the threat.
- •The exact timing and full nature of the attack were not clear in Egypt's warning, leading to questions about Israel's security failures.
- •Reports suggest Israeli security agencies had some indications of Hamas's activities, but their significance was not fully understood.
- •On October 7, Hamas militants breached the Gaza border and attacked an Israeli music festival, a major failure of Israel's security system.
Key Questions Answered
Egypt warned Israel several times about escalating activities and potential major threats brewing in Gaza. Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel even contacted the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to sound the alarm, though the warnings lacked precise details about the exact time and nature of the impending offensive.
Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for ignoring warnings from regional partners like Egypt and the UAE, stating that this failure compromised the overall situation assessment. Reports also indicated that Netanyahu kept top security chiefs in the dark regarding these communications.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan personally warned Netanyahu about ten days before the attack that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning a massive operation, describing the serious threat as an earthquake.
