Netanyahu confirms pre-October 7 visit by Egyptian intelligence chief

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Tuesday that Abbas Kamel, the former head of Egyptian intelligence, visited Israel shortly before the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. During a televised interview on Channel 14, Netanyahu clarified that he did not meet or speak with the Egyptian official during his 59-minute stay in the country. The Prime Minister stated that at the time of the visit, he was attending a memorial ceremony for the Yom Kippur War, and he publicly questioned who exactly the Egyptian official had met with during his brief time on Israeli soil.

This confirmation follows reports, notably from The Atlantic, suggesting that Kamel traveled to Israel eleven days before the attacks to warn Israeli officials of a potential major operation by Hamas. The report claimed that Egypt warned of an imminent explosion in the Gaza situation if Israel did not change course. While Netanyahu acknowledged the visit itself, he did not confirm the nature or the receipt of the warnings mentioned in media reports. The statement has reignited public debate regarding regional security protocols and the communication failures preceding the conflict.