Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects a report that the UAE warned him in advance about a planned Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and he says the claim is defamatory. Multiple outlets report that Haaretz published details—citing unnamed or reported sources—stating that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed contacted Netanyahu shortly before the attack, warning of a major operation.

Netanyahu and his office describe the allegations as false and say there was no relevant communication between Netanyahu’s office and the UAE from early September until October 7. According to the reports, Netanyahu frames the story as politically motivated “malicious libel” and says he will sue Haaretz. Other coverage also notes the dispute is intensifying domestic debate ahead of Israel’s election campaign.

Across the articles, the core differing emphasis is political impact and sourcing. Some outlets stress alleged dismissal of warnings and opposition criticism, while others focus on Netanyahu’s legal response and denial of any contact. Reporting also links the alleged UAE warning to concerns about potential bloodshed, regional destabilization, and the Abraham Accords, with the Haaretz account presented as based largely on anonymous sources and descriptions of reported conversations.