The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth has reported that the United Arab Emirates was asked to deny information concerning a warning issued by its president, Mohamed bin Zayed, to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding an operation being planned by Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, the late Yahya Sinwar, prior to October 7, 2023 but Abu Dhabi refrained from issuing a denial.
The newspaper explained that the UAE limited itself to diplomatic responses in order to avoid becoming entangled in Israel’s internal disputes, asserting that “had the UAE not actually warned Netanyahu, it would have categorically denied the matter.”
These details follow an extensive investigation published by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which revealed that Bin Zayed held a 45-minute phone call with Netanyahu in late September 2023. During the call, he informed Netanyahu that Sinwar was preparing for a “significant event,” warning of the potential repercussions for the region and the “Abraham Accords.”
According to the Haaretz investigation which drew on dozens of sources, recordings, documents, and internal correspondence Bin Zayed proposed finding an economic solution for the Gaza Strip and calming the situation in the West Bank. Netanyahu, however, received the warning calmly; he dismissed the suggestion, noting that assessments indicated Hamas intended to carry out an action in the West Bank.
The investigation noted that Bin Zayed shared details of the call with CIA Director William Burns, expressing surprise at Netanyahu’s reserved reaction, while an advisor to the Emirati president conveyed the hope that Netanyahu would treat the message seriously before the operation took place.
Source: Agencies (translated and edited by Al-Manar)