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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has responded to reports that he received an advance warning from UAE President about a planned attack by Sinwar approximately one week before 7 October. In a statement posted on X in English, Netanyahu stated: “If there was any relevant information, it was transferred through intelligence channels between the two countries.”

The UAE has neither confirmed nor denied the reports, with an official statement saying: “Since establishing relations with Israel, government bodies have maintained open and direct communication channels.” The UAE rejected pressure from the Israeli government to issue a public denial of the warning claim.

Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot has criticized Netanyahu over the matter, calling it “extraordinary negligence” if the reports are accurate. Eisenkot stated this represents a pattern of “closing eyes and evading responsibility at the critical moment” and questioned Netanyahu’s fitness for office as Prime Minister.

The controversy centres on whether Israel received actionable intelligence about Hamas’s planned 7 October attack and what response, if any, was taken based on such warnings. The disagreement between government officials and opposition figures highlights ongoing disputes about accountability for security failures surrounding the attack.

Sources: Ynet, Walla, www.israelhayom.co.il, Times of Israel