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// DOSSIER — investigations-reveal-secret-pre-oct-7-warnings-egypt
Investigations Reveal Secret Pre-Oct. 7 Warnings from Egypt and Regional Allies to Israel
REL_TIME: 28 Sep 2026 11:17Z · LANG: EN
Investigations by The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and other media outlets reveal that Egypt's then-General Intelligence Service chief, Abbas Kamel, secretly flew to Ben Gurion Airport on September 26, 2023—11 days before October 7—to urgently warn Israeli officials that Hamas was preparing a major attack. Kamel, whose aircraft stayed in Israel for only 67 minutes, recommended economic concessions to defuse escalating tensions in Gaza, though he provided no specific date, target, or tactical details. This outreach followed a June 2023 warning and preceded further Egyptian alerts up until 48 hours before the onslaught, alongside parallel warnings from UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former National Security Adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, have forcefully denied receiving any such warnings, labeling the reports politically motivated fabrications ahead of upcoming elections.
// Background
Leading up to the October 7, 2023, attack, Israel was embroiled in domestic political turmoil surrounding judicial overhaul legislation, while security authorities prioritized escalating violence in the West Bank over Gaza. Israel and Egypt maintain close intelligence coordination along the Gaza border stemming from the 1978 Camp David Accords. Despite periodic economic negotiations regarding Gazan work permits and Qatari fuel subsidies, Hamas leadership—including Yahya Sinwar—was secretly utilizing the talks to mask preparations for a massive, multipronged offensive.
// Key Developments
- Abbas Kamel, then Egypt's intelligence chief, flew to Tel Aviv for 67 minutes on September 26, 2023, to warn that Hamas was mobilizing for a significant attack.
- Warnings lacked specific dates, targets, or operational plans, prompting Kamel and regional leaders to urge economic concessions to prevent Gaza from 'blowing up.'
- Cairo previously signaled instability in June 2023 and continued issuing warnings to Israel through October 5, roughly 48 hours prior to the Oct. 7 attack.
- UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed also reportedly called Benjamin Netanyahu in late September 2023 warning of an escalation by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
- Netanyahu's office, Tzachi Hanegbi, and the Likud party strongly denied all allegations of pre-attack warnings from Egypt and the UAE, while opposition figures like Gadi Eisenkot reiterated calls for an independent state commission of inquiry.
// Timeline
-
Egyptian officials convey an initial vague warning to Israel that the situation in Gaza is volatile, advising a return to hostage-prisoner negotiations.
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Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel lands at Ben Gurion Airport for 67 minutes to deliver an urgent warning to Israeli officials regarding impending Hamas escalation; Prime Minister Netanyahu delivers a speech marking the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War.
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UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed reportedly calls Netanyahu to warn that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is preparing a major operation.
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UN envoy Tor Wennesland warns publicly of dire consequences in Gaza; the CIA issues an internal report warning of potential multi-day Hamas rocket fire.
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Netanyahu convenes a security meeting focusing on maintaining calm in Gaza, opposing proposed military strikes on Hamas figures due to ongoing Saudi normalization efforts.
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Egypt delivers another urgent message to Israel about an untenable situation and a possible attack; CIA issues a second analytical update.
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Hamas launches a multipronged assault on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and abducting 251 hostages into Gaza.
// Perspectives
[Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Likud Party]
Denies ever receiving direct or indirect pre-attack warnings from Egypt or the UAE, claiming the allegations are recycled falsehoods manufactured to sway upcoming elections, while opposing an independent state inquiry in favor of a politically appointed commission.
[Israeli Opposition (led by Gadi Eisenkot)]
Argues the accumulating reports of ignored warnings demonstrate severe leadership arrogance and systemic failure, demanding an independent state commission of inquiry into the pre-October 7 handling of intelligence.
[Egyptian and Arab Intelligence Officials]
Maintain that direct and repeated high-level alerts—including Kamel's personal visit and subsequent communications up to 48 hours before the attack—were conveyed to urge Israel to alter its policy and prevent a regional explosion.
[U.S. Intelligence and Officials]
Indicate that while broader tensions and risks of rocket escalations were identified in CIA reports on September 28 and October 5, specific warnings from Egypt or the UAE were not directly shared with Washington ahead of October 7.
// Quotes
“If you don’t change course, Gaza is going to blow up in your faces.”
“The messenger was the message.”
“For Kamel to go to Israel meant that al-Sisi himself felt: You need to go there and tell them yourself.”
“The Prime Minister has neither spoken, nor met, with the head of Egyptian intelligence since the formation of the government, neither directly nor indirectly.”
“We know that Egypt had warned the Israelis three days prior that an event like this could happen... I think the question was at what level.”
