Report: Netanyahu made secret UAE trip to deny October 7 warning claims
Israeli media report that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly traveled to the UAE over the weekend to ask its leader to deny having warned him about the looming Hamas attack before October 7, 2023. Netanyahu confirmed the trip but denies making such a request.
According to Israeli media reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret trip to the United Arab Emirates over the weekend. The purpose, as reported, was to ask the UAE's leader to publicly deny claims that he had warned Netanyahu about a looming Hamas threat ahead of the Palestinian militant group's October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel.
Netanyahu confirms trip, denies the request
Netanyahu himself has confirmed that the secret visit to the UAE took place. However, he denies having urged his Emirati counterpart to issue any such denial regarding a prior warning.
Background
Whether and to what extent Israeli leadership received advance warnings ahead of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack has remained a persistent point of contention in Israeli domestic politics since the attack occurred. France 24 correspondent Douglas Herbert has examined the episode and its significance in a closer look at the story.
The report is based on information published in Israeli media as well as Netanyahu's own confirmation of the trip.
