Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vehemently denied new allegations that he received a direct warning about Hamas's planned major operation prior to the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks. The claims appear in a new book by Israeli journalists.
According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which cited the book, United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed allegedly spoke with Netanyahu approximately 10 days before the attack. During this purported conversation, bin Zayed is said to have warned the Israeli leader that terror mastermind Yahya Sinwar was planning an operation.
Netanyahu's office issued a strong rebuttal, labeling the claims as an "absolute lie" and stating that such a phone call never took place.
The allegations surface weeks before Israel's national elections, a period marked by increased scrutiny of Netanyahu's handling of the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Iran.