Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his lawyers to initiate defamation proceedings against the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. The legal action follows a report claiming that the leader of the United Arab Emirates warned him of a planned Hamas operation days before the October 7, 2023 attacks. According to excerpts from a book published by Haaretz, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a phone call with the prime minister in September of that year, during which he warned that the then‑leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, was preparing a large‑scale operation.
The office denied receiving any warning from the United Arab Emirates prior to October 7, labeling the article part of a “sinister conspiracy.” In turn, Haaretz, known for its criticism of the premier, dismissed the claims, stating that their “sole purpose is to silence journalistic criticism.” The scandal is unfolding against the backdrop of an Israeli election campaign, where the October 27 vote is being viewed as a referendum on the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu.
Details of the report and reactions
The Haaretz report, based on research for the book Hostages: 843 Days of Abandonment by authors Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval, claims that Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan warned the prime minister that Yahya Sinwar had described the upcoming attack as an “earthquake.” According to the publication, the leader reacted “relatively calmly,” suggesting that Hamas would act in the West Bank, and assured that Israel was prepared for any scenario. The report also says he did not inform the heads of the Shin Bet, Mossad, or the Chief of General Staff about the conversation, even though the Emirati leader had passed the information to then‑CIA Director William J. Burns.
On October 7, 2023, militants led by Hamas breached the border, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched a military campaign that, according to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, has killed at least 73,670 people—figures considered reliable by the UN. Benjamin Netanyahu continues to resist calls for an independent public inquiry into the events of that day.
The Likud party accused Haaretz of “blatant foreign election interference,” and the premier himself stated on X that the publication was a “political synchronization” with the campaign of left‑wing forces. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not deny the conversation took place, emphasizing that open channels of communication are maintained between the countries and intelligence is shared as necessary. Four opposition leaders—Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan—issued a joint statement demanding an investigation and calling the government of Benjamin Netanyahu unfit to serve.
Source: BBC World
