Netanjahu threatens to sue Haaretz over report on UAE warning before Hamas attack

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanjahu announced on Wednesday that he intends to file a lawsuit against the Israeli newspaper Haaretz over an article concerning events before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.

What the article claimed

According to the disputed publication, the president of the United Arab Emirates had warned Netanjahu in the autumn of 2023 about an impending large-scale attack by the militant group Hamas. The source material does not specify further details about the content of the alleged warning or what was done with it afterward.

By announcing legal action, Netanjahu is signaling that he considers the report's claims to be false or misleading, choosing to pursue the matter through the courts rather than only issuing a public denial.

Haaretz is one of Israel's most prominent newspapers, known for its critical coverage of the country's political leadership, including the government led by Netanjahu.

The source report does not specify when the lawsuit will be filed or what legal form it will take.