NYT Confirms Report Netanyahu Was Warned of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 Attack Days in Advance

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a ceremony commemorating Israel’s Remembrance Day for fallen soldiers, or Yom HaZikaron, at the Military Cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, Tuesday April 21, 2026. (Ilia Yefimovich/Pool Photo via AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was warned days in advance that Hamas terrorists were planning a “major attack” but failed to take action, The New York Times has confirmed.

The outlet spoke to two sources who confirmed an earlier report from Israeli newspaper Haaretz with the damning information about Netanyahu, who is seeking a seventh term as prime minister.

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed had warned Netanyahu in late September that Hamas was plotting an attack, according to Haaretz.

Sources told The Times that Netanyahu failed to pass that information along to the country’s security officials:

The warning from the Emirati leader, however, never reached the leaders of Israel’s security establishment, according to five former senior Israeli officials. Mr. Netanyahu gathered his security chiefs days later, on Oct. 1, 2023, for a meeting about the situation in the Gaza Strip, and never mentioned the warning, according to minutes of the meeting reviewed by The Times.

Netanyahu — who just gave a fiery speech to the United Nations General Assembly defending Israel’s actions in Iran — has denied the allegation that he failed to take action ahead of the devastating terror attack.

The Times went on to note that Netanyahu was hesitant to take action in Gaza before the attack:

At the meeting, details of which have not been previously reported, Mr. Netanyahu said that any Israeli action in Gaza might sabotage the prospect of Saudi Arabia establishing diplomatic relations with Israel — a deal the Israeli prime minister believed was imminent.

Hamas descended on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in a surprise attack that was stunning in its cruelty.

About 1,200 Israeli civilians were slaughtered, including women and children, and more than 200 were taken hostage.

The attack prompted a severe response from Israel, which launched repeated attacks that have left Gaza devastated and caused an outcry around the world.

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