Netanyahu to sue Haaretz over claims UAE warned him before October 7 attack
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will sue Haaretz and the report's authors after the newspaper published a piece claiming the United Arab Emirates president, Mohammed bin Zayed, warned Israel of a Hamas attack 10 days before October 7, 2023. Netanyahu called the article fabricated, denied a phone call with MBZ, and said he instructed lawyers to take legal action.
Why It Matters
The allegation touches on possible missed warnings ahead of the October 7 attacks and the performance of Israel's security services, and it arrives as Netanyahu campaigns for the upcoming Knesset elections while facing strong challengers and polling pressure.
Key Facts
- Allegation in Haaretz: UAE president Mohammed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu of a possible Hamas attack 10 days before October 7, 2023
- Netanyahu's response: Called the report fabricated and false; said he instructed his lawyers to sue Haaretz and the article's authors
- Authors named: Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yaval
- Netanyahu's denial detail: Said the National Security Council and the Military Secretary found no trace of the alleged call in call logs
- Haaretz publication timing: Report published on Tuesday; Netanyahu's statement posted on X on Wednesday
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will take legal action against Haaretz and the newspaper's reporters after a Haaretz article said the United Arab Emirates president, Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ), warned Israel about a possible Hamas offensive 10 days before the October 7, 2023 attacks. Netanyahu described the piece as fabricated and instructed his lawyers to sue both the paper and the authors, Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yaval.
Haaretz reported that MBZ and aides passed the warning to Israel’s Shin Bet after receiving intelligence that then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar had told intermediaries he was planning a “huge surprise” and had told contacts “to expect an earthquake.” According to the report, Shin Bet assessed the information and dismissed it, and MBZ later raised the matter directly with Netanyahu, who also purportedly did not act on the warning.
The UAE declined to comment on the specific allegations; its Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government does not comment on media stories or speculation about conversations between leaders. Netanyahu reiterated his denial of the phone call and said the National Security Council and the Military Secretary reviewed the prime minister’s call logs for the relevant days and found no record of such a conversation.
The report and the ensuing denials come as Netanyahu seeks to secure his position ahead of the October Knesset elections, where he has trailed in polls and faces a challenge from former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. Netanyahu also accused Palestinian figure Muhammad Dahlan of being behind the Haaretz report; Dahlan was expelled from Fatah in 2011, lives in the UAE, and his representatives have rejected Netanyahu’s allegation, according to Israeli media. The October 7 attacks left at least 1,195 people killed in southern Israel and about 251 taken captive, and were followed by Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in at least 73,669 Palestinian deaths, according to the reporting cited by Haaretz.
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