WSJ: Egypt Warns Israel of Hamas Planning October 7 Attack

Egypt has warned Israel three times that Hamas is preparing an attack from Gaza. Twice these warnings were conveyed directly to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel. This is reported by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing several officials in the Egyptian government.

According to sources WSJ, the first warning was made in June 2023. Egyptian officials said it was "unspecific." In September 2023, Abbas Kamel flew to Israel with a clearer and more serious warning that the situation in Gaza was extremely tense and “could explode at any moment.” The third warning came just days before Hamas attacked on October 7, 2023. According to sources in Egypt, all these warnings were answered by the Israeli leadership that it was in full control of the situation.

As the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported in early September, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also warned Benjamin Netanyahu of an impending attack from Gaza shortly before it happened. The newspaper accused the Prime Minister of ignoring the warnings. Netanyahu accused the newspaper of defamation and announced his intention to file a libel suit.

Alena Miklashevskaya