Netanyahu prepares to sue Haaretz over UAE's October 7 warning claim

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing to file a lawsuit against the newspaper Haaretz, which reported the claim that the leader of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had warned him days before the October 7, 2023, attacks that Hamas was planning a major operation.

Netanyahu's office maintained that the prime minister received no such warning from the UAE prior to October 7. In a statement, the report was described as a "conspiracy," while the Likud Party accused Haaretz of foreign interference in Israeli elections.

Haaretz, for its part, stood by its report. The newspaper's lawyers rejected Netanyahu's defamation claim, stating that the publication was the product of comprehensive investigative journalism based on sources. The newspaper characterized the legal action as an attempt to "silence critical journalism."

CLAIMS IN THE REPORT

According to the report published by Haaretz, which is based on excerpts from the book "Hostages: 843 Days of Abandonment," a phone call intended to be kept secret took place between UAE leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and Netanyahu in the final days of September 2023.

The report alleged that the UAE side informed Netanyahu that Yahya Sinwar, the then-Gaza leader of Hamas, was preparing a major operation. According to the claim, Sinwar had described the planned action as an "earthquake."

The newspaper wrote that the UAE leader was concerned that a possible attack would lead not only to bloodshed but also to regional instability. The report further alleged that Netanyahu responded calmly to this warning, believing that Hamas was primarily aiming to operate in the West Bank, and stated that Israel was prepared for any scenario.

According to Haaretz, Netanyahu did not inform the Shin Bet, the Mossad, or the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces about his conversation with the UAE leader. The report also claimed that the UAE leader relayed the conversation to then-CIA Director William J. Burns.

The UAE did not directly confirm or deny the conversation in question. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that there have been open and direct communication channels between the UAE and Israeli government institutions for more than five years, and that necessary intelligence has been and continues to be transmitted between the relevant agencies.

The controversy has emerged ahead of the general elections to be held in Israel on October 27. The elections are considered a critical test for the leadership of Netanyahu, who has long been criticized for security and intelligence failures regarding the October 7 attacks.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas-led armed groups crossed the Gaza border and attacked residential areas, military sites, and a music festival in Israel; approximately 1,200 people were killed, and 251 people were taken hostage to Gaza. In the attacks launched by Israel on Gaza, at least 73,670 people have lost their lives, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

Opposition leaders in Israel, including Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan, have also called for an investigation into the claims. In a joint statement, they argued that Netanyahu and his partners in the October 7 government are unfit to continue in their roles.