Netanyahu Faces Intense Backlash Over Report of Advanced Warning Before October 7

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced a fierce political backlash following a report that the president of the UAE had warned him of a major Hamas operation days before the October 7, 2023 attack. The Prime Minister’s Office dismissed the report as an “absolute lie,” but with upcoming elections approaching, political rivals quickly seized on the allegations.

The opposition party leaders—Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan—issued a rare joint statement demanding “an immediate and thorough investigation” into Netanyahu’s actions and potential security failures. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett characterized the alleged disregard for warnings as “criminal negligence,” while former Prime Minister Yair Lapid stated that the massacre could have been prevented if Netanyahu had fulfilled his role.

The original report, published in the Haaretz newspaper, stemmed from an upcoming book by journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruti Yuval. It detailed a 45-minute call where UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed allegedly warned Netanyahu that Hamas’ Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar was planning a significant offensive. Although the UAE’s Foreign Ministry did not explicitly deny the call, stating only that intelligence is communicated when necessary, Netanyahu’s office strongly denied receiving any such warning.

As accountability remains a central electoral issue in Israel, Netanyahu’s critics continue to press for answers. Gadi Eisenkot pledged to establish a state commission of inquiry if elected, while Netanyahu and his associates have maintained their stance, deflecting responsibility and resisting independent investigations into the security failures of that day.