Egypt Warned Israel of Gaza Attack Days Before Oct. 7, Report Says
Egypt's intelligence chief flew to Israel on Sept. 26, 2023, warning Hamas was preparing a major assault; Netanyahu denies the account.
KEY POINTS
- Egyptian intel chief Abbas Kamel visited Israel secretly on Sept. 26, 2023.
- Kamel warned Hamas was preparing a major attack; urged economic concessions.
- The Atlantic cited current and former officials from Israel, Egypt, U.S., Europe, Arab states.
- Netanyahu's office denies the report, calling it false and politically motivated.
- Israeli elections are scheduled for Oct. 27, roughly one month after the report.
The Atlantic reported Friday that Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel made a secret 67-minute visit to Tel Aviv on Sept. 26, 2023, eleven days before the Hamas attack. Kamel reportedly warned Israeli officials that Hamas was preparing a large-scale operation and urged economic concessions to Gaza to avert escalation.
An Egyptian official told the magazine that Kamel's brief trip signaled President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's direct involvement, stating the envoy's presence was the message itself. A former Israeli official said it was inconceivable Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unaware of the meeting.
“If you don't change the trajectory, Gaza will blow up in your hands.”
Netanyahu's office issued a categorical denial Saturday, calling the report "false" and a politically motivated attempt to influence public opinion ahead of elections scheduled for Oct. 27. The statement said the claim had been previously investigated and dismissed.
The visit coincided with Netanyahu speaking at a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, where he discussed intelligence failures preceding that conflict. The Atlantic cited sources in Israel, Egypt, Arab states, the U.S., and Europe for its account.
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