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The United Arab Emirates said Tuesday it does not discuss media reports or speculation concerning conversations between government leaders, after an Israeli newspaper reported that the UAE had warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
"The UAE Government does not comment on media stories or speculation regarding conversations between government leaders," the UAE Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on X.
The ministry said that since Oct. 7, 2023, the UAE's efforts have "consistently" centered on de-escalation, regional stability and preventing further violence. It added that UAE and Israeli government entities "have maintained open and direct lines of communication since the inception of the relationship more than five years ago," a reference to the 2020 Abraham Accords that normalized ties between the two countries.
The ministry said relevant authorities have communicated, and continue to communicate, all pertinent intelligence "when necessary." The statement did not identify which specific media reports had prompted the response.
The statement followed a report published earlier Tuesday by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which alleged that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu during a phone call on Sept. 23, 2023, that Hamas intended to carry out an attack. According to the report, Netanyahu did not act on the warning and did not relay the information to senior security officials.
Netanyahu's office denied the account Tuesday, saying he did not speak with the UAE president that day and received no warning from bin Zayed.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Tuesday that he had information indicating Netanyahu received advance warnings of the attack, including one from the UAE president. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid also referenced warnings that had been issued before Oct. 7.
On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas fighters attacked Israeli military positions and communities near the Gaza border, killing and taking captive a number of Israelis. Hamas said the assault came in response to what it described as ongoing actions by Israeli military against Palestinians and their holy sites, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza the following day. According to figures cited in the report, the campaign has killed more than 73,000 people and wounded over 174,000, while causing extensive damage estimated to affect around 90% of the territory's civilian infrastructure.
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