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UAE responds to media reports on conversations with Israeli government
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that UAE's engagement since October 7 was consistently directed toward de-escalation, regional stability
- PUBLISHED: Tue 8 Sept 2026, 9:27 PM UPDATED: Tue 8 Sept 2026, 11:12 PM
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has underscored that the UAE Government does not comment on media stories or speculation regarding conversations between government leaders.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz, in a report excerpted from a forthcoming book by its reporters, claimed that UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan spoke with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a-week-and-a-half before the attack and said that the leader of Hamas in Gaza at the time was planning an operation, AFP reported. The newspaper, quoting mostly anonymous sources, said that Netanyahu replied calmly to the warning.
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However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified in a statement on Tuesday that the UAE's engagement since October 7 was consistently directed toward de-escalation, regional stability and preventing violence.
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UAE and Israeli government entities have maintained open and direct lines of communication since the inception of the relationship more than five years ago. When necessary, all relevant intelligence has been and continues to be communicated between the relevant entities, it said.
Since the reports emerged, Israeli opposition leaders have called Netanyahu unfit to serve as the prime minister. Gadi Eisenkot, a former military commander who has emerged as Netanyahu's top rival in upcoming October 27 elections, wrote on X, "Netanyahu received dozens of warnings for October 7 and ignored them all. He is unfit."
Netanyahu's office also denied the report by the newspaper, saying in a statement late Tuesday, "No warning was given to the Prime Minister from the United Arab Emirates before October 7th."
On October 7, 2023, Hamas stormed into Israel in a rampage that killed about 1,200 people and took another 251 hostage. The massive Israeli offensive in response has left most of Gaza in ruins and killed 73,658 people, according to the Gaza health ministry.
[With inputs from WAM, AFP]
