Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated this week that he intends to sue the newspaper Haaretz, along with journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval, over claims that he ignored an advance warning about Hamas's October 7 attack.
The report, which is featured in Eldar and Yuval's new book 'Hostages: 843 Days of Abandonment,' alleges that Netanyahu was personally alerted by the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, about Hamas's plans for a large-scale offensive a week and a half before the attack.
According to the report, Netanyahu allegedly did not heed this warning and did not brief key defense officials, including the heads of the Shin Bet and Mossad, and the Israel Defense Forces' chief of staff. The report also claims that Egyptian intelligence chief Major General Abbas Kamel also issued a warning about an impending operation.
Netanyahu's office has vehemently denied these allegations, calling the investigation an 'absolute lie.' A statement from his bureau asserted that Netanyahu did not speak with the president of the UAE during the specified period and received no warning from him. The office also stated that a review of the Prime Minister's call logs and office entry records showed no visit from an Emirati representative.
"If there was any relevant information, it was passed through intelligence channels between the two countries," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.
The Prime Minister's office suggested the report was part of a politically motivated campaign, particularly given the upcoming election. "The Prime Minister's office said the report was part of a 'sinister plot with clear political timing, as part of the left's election campaign,' warning that there would be 'more such false plots,'" the statement read.
Political Fallout
The claims have intensified criticism from Israeli opposition leaders, some of whom have described the prime minister as 'unfit' for office. Gadi Eisenkot, a former military commander and a rival of Netanyahu in the upcoming elections, accused the prime minister of evading responsibility and ignoring numerous warnings.
Naftali Bennett, a former prime minister, stated that Netanyahu bears personal responsibility for the deaths on October 7. Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party, accused Netanyahu of endangering Israel and claimed that the prime minister knew, ignored warnings, and failed to act.
Opposition parties have called for an independent state commission of inquiry into the security failures that preceded the October 7 attack, proposing it as a priority if they win the upcoming elections. Netanyahu's government has rejected this proposal.
The October 7th Attack
On October 7, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages. This event marked the single deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. Since then, hundreds of Israelis have been killed in subsequent military operations. Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has led to a humanitarian crisis, with over 73,000 Palestinians killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.