(VIDEO) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing renewed political pressure following a report that United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan warned him of preparations for a major Hamas operation before the militant group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack.
The reported warning has intensified questions in Israel over whether Netanyahu’s government adequately assessed intelligence about Hamas’ intentions and whether information from regional partners was acted upon before the attack.
Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking roughly 250 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. Israel responded by launching a military campaign in the Gaza Strip aimed at dismantling Hamas and securing the release of the hostages.
The attack marked the deadliest day for Israel in decades and triggered a war that has caused extensive destruction and a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It also significantly reshaped political and diplomatic relations across the Middle East.
Netanyahu has faced sustained criticism over the security and intelligence failures surrounding the attack. Critics, including families of hostages and political opponents, have demanded greater accountability and an independent investigation into how the threat was assessed before Oct. 7.
The reported UAE warning could add to those calls if further evidence establishes that specific information about an impending Hamas operation was communicated to Israeli leaders and not adequately addressed.
The UAE and Israel established formal diplomatic relations in 2020 under the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, making the two countries among a growing group of Arab and Israeli states to develop open diplomatic and economic ties.
The report comes as Israel continues to grapple with the political and security consequences of the Oct. 7 attack, which remains a defining event in the country’s modern history.
