Netanyahu’s office called The Atlantic’s report of an Egyptian warning before Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack false. The magazine said intelligence chief Abbas Kamel warned Israel that Hamas appeared to be preparing a major assault.
The Atlantic reported that Kamel visited Israel less than two weeks before the attack, warned that the window to avert a catastrophe was closing and recommended economic concessions to Hamas. It cited officials in Israel, Egypt and other Arab countries, as well as officials in the United States and Europe. The article did not identify whom Kamel met. A former Israeli government official quoted by the magazine said it was inconceivable Netanyahu had not known of the visit or meetings with Israeli intelligence.
Netanyahu’s office said the allegation had been denied at the time and was being “recycled to manipulate the Israeli public.” Two days after the attack, it had said Egypt issued no such warning and that Netanyahu had no direct or indirect meeting with Kamel. Separately, Haaretz reported that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu that then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning a large-scale offensive. Netanyahu’s office denied that report and announced plans to sue the newspaper for defamation.
