Stories
Netanyahu questions Egypt intelligence chief secret Israel visit before Gaza war
- •Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel made a secret visit to Israel shortly before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
- •Netanyahu stated that Kamel did not meet with him during the visit and questioned what the intelligence chief was doing and whom he met.
- •Egypt previously claimed it warned Israel about Hamas planning a major attack, prompting Netanyahu to respond and raise doubts about the visit.
- •Netanyahu blamed security chiefs for failing to wake him up during the attack, noting they dismissed Hamas preparations as minor exercises.
- •Netanyahu outlined plans to completely eliminate Hamas in Gaza without using excessive force.
Key Questions Answered
Egypt's intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, made a secret visit to Israel for about 50 minutes just before the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. According to Egyptian claims, Kamel warned Israeli officials about Hamas's planned major attack if demands regarding prisoners and economic concessions were not met.
Netanyahu questioned Kamel's visit because, while he acknowledged the 50-minute stay, he claimed Kamel never held any meeting or spoke with him directly. Netanyahu stated he still does not know which Israeli officials Kamel met during that trip, with reports noting the issue was brought up amid elections.
Netanyahu stated that intelligence and military chiefs failed to wake him because they believed Hamas was only conducting exercises or preparing for a minor attack. Even after noticing terrorists acquiring Israeli SIM cards, security officials misjudged it as minor preparation, which Netanyahu noted prevented him from canceling the Nova festival or alerting the air force in time.
