UAE Responds to Reports That Abu Dhabi Warned Israel Before October 7 Attack

The UAE has addressed a recent article published by an Israeli news outlet suggesting that Abu Dhabi cautioned Israel about an impending Hamas attack in the weeks leading up to October 7. According to Haaretz, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a direct warning from senior Emirati leadership, which allegedly went unaddressed. This investigation surfaced amidst an intense election campaign as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fights to secure his political future.

In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the UAE government "does not comment on reports or speculations published in the media regarding conversations between government leaders." The ministry added, "Since October 7, the efforts of the United Arab Emirates have focused on de-escalation, enhancing regional stability, and limiting violence." It further noted that governmental entities in both the United Arab Emirates and Israel have maintained open and direct channels of communication since establishing relations over five years ago, continuing to exchange relevant intelligence information as needed.

Previously, Israeli media outlets reported that Egyptian officials also issued warnings to the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding an imminent attack. This has sparked an ongoing debate within Israel concerning border security vulnerabilities and whether security services received briefings on these warnings. The cross-border Hamas attack on October 7 resulted in 1,200 fatalities, primarily Israelis, alongside 250 individuals abducted and taken to Gaza. The subsequent Israeli invasion caused over 73,000 deaths in Gaza and devastated the territory, leading to war crime accusations that Israel denies. The conflict later escalated further as US and Israeli strikes on Iran plunged the broader region into deeper turmoil.