Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered his legal team to begin a defamation action against the Israeli newspaper Haaretz after the outlet claimed that United Arab Emirates officials warned him of a Hamas attack scheduled for 7 October.
The claim originates from excerpts published in the Israeli daily’s book, which alleges that Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the UAE president, briefed Netanyahu on the day before the attacks that Hamas was preparing a major offensive and that the operation was likened to an “earthquake.” According to the report, the dialogue took place in a confidential setting, and the UAE representative passed on the information to the Israeli intelligence community.
Netanyahu’s office has rejected the story, labeling it part of a “sinister plot” and denying any warning from the UAE prior to the 7 October attacks. The text also notes that the Israeli prime minister apparently did not inform key security officials or the army’s chief of staff about the conversation, a detail the Haaretz report highlights as an omission.
Haaretz stands by its coverage, calling it a legitimate piece of investigative journalism and refusing to be silenced by the prime minister’s summons. In response, the newspaper’s lawyers have emphasized that the piece is based on in‑depth research and multiple credible sources.
The lawsuit’s timing coincides with the start of Israel’s election campaign, and it could intensify criticism of Netanyahu’s handling of the events that led to the 7 October attacks in which more than 1,200 people were killed and hundreds taken hostage. The conflict also prompted Israel’s response with a protracted campaign in Gaza that has, according to Hamas’s health ministry, killed well over 70,000 civilians.
The UAE has not directly addressed the specific conversation but has stressed ongoing cooperation with Israel to keep the region from escalating. Meanwhile, several opposition leaders have called for a thorough investigation into the events of October and accused the Netanyahu‑led government of being unfit to continue in office.
