Netanyahu Denies Oct. 7 Warning Call, Plans Libel Suit

Benjamin Netanyahu is turning to the courts over one of the most explosive questions surrounding the Oct. 7 attack: what he knew, and when. Haaretz reports that the Israeli prime minister sent a pre-lawsuit notice to the newspaper and two of its journalists after the paper had reported he'd received a personal warning call from UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed about a major Hamas operation days before the assault, then failed to brief Israel's security chiefs. Haaretz reported that Netanyahu "reacted with relative calm" to that message, allegedly telling the UAE leader that Israel was ready no matter what and that he believed an attack was more likely to emerge out of the West Bank, per the AP.

Netanyahu flatly denies the call ever happened, saying a review of his logs shows no such conversation and calling the report a politically timed "malicious fabrication," per Haaretz. He acknowledged that sensitive calls like the alleged one from Abu Dhabi are conducted via a special secure phone brought to his office, but he insists no such device was used in this case. Netanyahu also scoffed at reports that Egypt's intelligence chief had offered a similar warning to him. Haaretz says it stands by its story, while the UAE has declined to confirm or deny it.