On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israelis on the other side of the Gaza border and at least 1,195 people were killed. Israeli media outlet Haaretz reported that the 'Hannibal Directive' that authorizes the IDF to kill fellow Israelis to prevent them from becoming hostages, was employed on October 7.

Over the past two weeks, it has been reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received multiple warnings from Egypt and the United Arab Emirates that Hamas was going to attack BEFORE the attack occurred. The IDF and Shin Bet reportedly also warned Netanyahu of a Hamas attack prior to the event. 

Netanyahu seeking an unprecedented seventh term, has placed the blame on national security officials for the attacks, while his critics have said he must personally answer for the failures. The election is scheduled for October 27.

Netanyahu Was Warned of a Hamas Attack Numerous Times BEFORE October 7, 2023

Summary by JW Williams

WARNINGS FROM EGYPT, INCLUDING AN IN-PERSON VISIT

Egypt conveyed at least three separate warnings to Israel of a major Hamas operation ahead of the October 7 massacre, including a secret visit by Egypt's intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel to Israel just 11 days before the attack, carrying an urgent warning that Gaza was preparing a major attack. A former Israeli official later briefed on the visit summarized Kamel's message this way: "If you don't change course, Gaza is going to blow up in your faces." Egypt's Kamel, had already given Netanyahu several warnings that there were signs of an impending attack from Gaza, but to no avail. After the visit, Kamel again warned Netanyahu.

WARNING FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

In early September, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz published an excerpt from "Hostages: 843 Days of Abandonment," a book by two Israeli journalists that details an encrypted call reportedly made by United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, less than two weeks before Oct. 7, 2023, to warn Netanyahu that Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, was planning a major operation that could destabilize the Middle East. Netanyahu did not pass on the warnings to his security aides, per the book authors. Netanyahu has refused to allow an independent commission to investigate.

Both Egypt's intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel and United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan urged Netanyahu to ease economic pressure on Gaza.

This week, Netanyahu visited United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed , and reportedly asked that bin Zayed publicly deny a report that he had warned Netanyahu about the looming Hamas threat in a phone call just before the attack.