Netanyahu sues Haaretz over claims of ignored Hamas attack warning

A report published by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, citing information from a new book by journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval, claims that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a personal warning from UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed approximately ten days before the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. According to the report, the UAE leader warned of a major operation being prepared by then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, but Netanyahu allegedly failed to share this information with his security service chiefs and downplayed the threat, believing it was focused on the West Bank.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has categorically denied these allegations, labeling them "absolute lies" and "malicious slander." His office stated that an internal review of communication records confirmed no such conversation between the two leaders took place between early September 2023 and the day of the attack. Following the publication, the Prime Minister instructed his legal team to file a defamation lawsuit against Haaretz and the journalists involved.

The report has sparked significant political backlash, with Israeli opposition parties calling for a thorough investigation into the matter as national elections approach on October 27. The controversy continues to dominate the public discourse as the legal battle over the accuracy of the claims is set to proceed.