Did Netanyahu’s Cabinet Know about October 7 Attack in Advance?

10/05/2026 / By Sterling Ashworth

On October 7, 2023, Hamas-led fighters breached Israel’s Gaza border barrier, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli officials [1]. Israeli officials initially described the assault as a surprise. Subsequent reports, books and testimony cited by former officials allege that political and military leaders received advance warnings of the operation [2].

The question of why the cabinet did not preempt the assault has been raised in Israeli media, in newly published books, and in statements by former security officials as Israel approaches its late October election [3][4]. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied receiving any warning and has said he ordered defamation lawsuits against the allegations, calling them “false slanders” spread “on the eve of elections, by political rivals and hostile foreign actors” [5].

Advance Warnings from Regional Officials

A week and a half before October 7, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, known as MBZ, called Netanyahu and warned that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning a major operation against Israel, according to Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval’s book Hostages: 843 Days of Abandonment [6]. According to the account, bin Zayed recommended an economic solution for Gaza and calming the West Bank; Netanyahu reportedly said Israel was prepared for any scenario [6][7].

Former Fatah official Sufian Abu Zaida said in an interview with Egypt’s Alghad TV that Sinwar warned twice in September 2023 of a coming “earthquake” and demanded that Israel prepare to “empty its prisons” [3]. Abu Zaida said then-Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar briefed Netanyahu on the meeting in mid-September 2023, and that senior defense figures held an urgent discussion two days later [3]. Egypt’s then-intelligence chief Abbas Kamel reportedly traveled to Israel in late September 2023 to warn that Hamas was preparing something big, according to the same accounts [8]. Rep. Michael McCaul, chair of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, said after an intelligence briefing that Israel received an official warning from Egypt three days before the attack [9].

Intelligence Warnings and Analysts’ Testimony

In November 2023, The New York Times reported that Israel knew Hamas’s attack plan more than a year earlier, citing a 40-page document code-named Jericho Wall that outlined a lethal invasion [3]. The document was circulated among Israeli military and intelligence leaders, but experts assessed that an attack of that scale was beyond Hamas’s capabilities, according to the report [3]. A document compiled by the Gaza Division called “Detailed End-to-End Raid Training,” distributed to the Israeli military on September 19, 2023, detailed exercises to be conducted by Hamas elite units [10]. A Unit 8200 document described Hamas elite Nukhba unit exercises in the weeks before October 7, including instructions on taking 200 to 250 hostages, according to early reports and interviews after the attack [3]. The actual tally was 251 captives [1].

Palestinians in civilian clothing near the border fence with maps and shovels were misidentified by Israeli officials, and the chief of staff ignored warnings concerning the activity [2].

Israeli border lookouts, including Maya Desiatnik, said they reported suspicious activity near the fence, including Palestinians with maps and digging holes, but were told by superiors they were farmers and there was nothing to worry about [3]. “We saw what was happening, we told them about it, and we were the ones who were murdered,” Desiatnik said in an Israeli TV segment [3].

Response, Hostages, and Investigations

IDF investigations disclosed in early 2025 found severe intelligence miscalculations and misconceptions about Hamas’s intentions, according to the findings [3]. Shin Bet’s review pointed to Prime Minister Netanyahu, citing the political idea of Hamas as an Israeli asset, the judgment that Hamas could not launch a large-scale attack, and weak defensive deployment, according to Israeli officials [3].

Netanyahu appointed former military commander Gal Hirsch to coordinate the hostage response [3]. The appointment was criticized in Israel because of Hirsch’s earlier record in a botched abduction affair and a bribery case, according to Israeli media [3]. Hirsch and his business partners were indicted for tax evasion of $1.9 million in a case concerning arms sales to Georgia [3].

Testimonies cited by Israeli witnesses and radio reports alleged that Israeli forces killed some citizens and hostages under the Hannibal Directive, described by some soldiers as a “mass Hannibal” [3]. One witness told Israel Radio that Israeli special forces “eliminated everyone, including the hostages” [3]. An early Hamas offer to release civilian hostages shortly after the attack was rejected, according to a Haaretz investigation [11].

Political Context and Unanswered Questions

The disclosures have re-emerged before Israel’s late October election and have been used in the political contest, according to Israeli media [3]. In September 2026, Netanyahu traveled to Abu Dhabi to ask bin Zayed to deny publicly that he had warned Israel before the attack, according to the Associated Press [12][13]. The UAE confirmed the visit [14]. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary, Mohsen Rezaei, criticized the UAE for hosting Netanyahu, writing that “hosting the ‘Butcher of Gaza’ will also not have favorable consequences” [15].

Sara Netanyahu aired a conspiracy theory alleging opposition figures knew in advance of the attack; no evidence supports the claim, and opposition politician Yair Golan said he plans to sue her for incitement [16]. Former IDF chief of staff Dan Halutz accused Netanyahu of concealing warnings ahead of the attack and laid ultimate responsibility for the security failure on him [4].

References

“Netanyahu asked UAE to cover up prior October 7 knowledge – media”. RT. September 28, 2026.
The New American. “NYT Confirms Report That Netanyahu Knew About Oct. 7, Failed to Warn Officials”. The New American. September 25, 2026.
Dan Steinbock. “Why Didn’t Netanyahu’s Cabinet Preempt October 7 (if it Knew About it in Advance)?”. Antiwar.com. October 1, 2026.
“Netanyahu ‘concealed’ warnings of Oct. 7 Hamas attack – former IDF chief”. RT. September 14, 2026.
Middle East Eye. “Netanyahu says he filed libel lawsuits over October 7 warning allegations”. Middle East Eye. September 29, 2026.
Middle East Eye. “UAE president ‘personally told Netanyahu’ of Hamas plans for major attack ahead of 7 October”. Middle East Eye. September 8, 2026.
“Netanyahu knew about Oct. 7 Hamas attack days in advance – report”. RT. September 8, 2026.
Middle East Eye. “The Atlantic: Egypt’s intelligence chief had warned Israel of Hamas attack”. Middle East Eye. September 26, 2026.
NaturalNews.com. “Report: Israel received WARNING from Egypt 3 days before attack but ignored it”. NaturalNews.com. October 13, 2023.
NaturalNews.com. “CONFIRMED: Israel KNEW the October 7 attacks were planned but chose to do nothing”. NaturalNews.com. June 27, 2024.
The New American. “Haaretz: Netanyahu Ignored October 7 Warnings, Rejected Early Hostage Offer”. The New American. September 10, 2026.
“Netanyahu asked UAE to deny October 7 warning – AP”. RT. September 29, 2026.
Thomas Karat. “The Usefulness of a Massacre”. Antiwar.com. October 1, 2026.
Middle East Eye. “UAE confirms Netanyahu visit for first time, with no mention of regional wars”. Middle East Eye. September 29, 2026.
Middle East Eye. “Iran official criticises UAE welcoming ‘Butcher of Gaza’ Netanyahu into country”. Middle East Eye. September 30, 2026.
“Netanyahu’s wife targets opposition politician with conspiracy claim”. RT. September 1, 2026.