Netanyahu Office Denies Haaretz Report of Emirati Warning About Hamas Attack

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has formally rejected a Haaretz report claiming that the president of the United Arab Emirates had warned him that Hamas was preparing a major assault on Israel before the September 2023 assault that reshaped the region’s security dynamics.^[1]

Denial Issued

The statement released by the Israeli Prime Minister’s office after the Haaretz article surfaced is unequivocal: the claim that the Emirati president’s warning reached Netanyahu’s office is false. Local officials underscored that no such communication ever took place.^[1]

Background of the Alleged Warning

The original claim, carried by the Jerusalem‑based newspaper, suggested that the title of the UAE’s leadership had reached Israeli intelligence, supposedly alerting Israeli authorities to a looming Hamas offensive. The report linked this alleged warning to a pattern of diplomatic engagement the UAE had pursued in late 2022. It implied that past leaks or misinterpretations might have prompted the claims.^[1]

Reactions

While the Israeli government’s denial was swift, the rumor has already entered public discourse through social media. Analysts caution that unverified claims may influence diplomatic narratives, especially amid ongoing Israeli‑UAE diplomatic progress announced in 2023. No official diplomatic channels have yet responded to the protest from Israel.^[1]