UAE gave explicit warning to Netanyahu of Hamas plans days before October 7, new book says

A new book, "Hostages: 843 Days of Abandonment," by Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval, claims Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received an explicit warning from the UAE about a major Hamas operation led by Yahya Sinwar days before the October 7 attack. According to the book, Sinwar sent a message through a Fatah figure, repeatedly using the Arabic word "zilzal" (earthquake) to indicate a "big surprise." This warning was reportedly passed to then-Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar on September 15, 2023, and subsequently to Netanyahu. Approximately a week later, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan allegedly called Netanyahu via a special communication system to ensure he received the warning. Netanyahu reportedly reassured the UAE president, stating, "We are prepared in Gaza," and assessed that any trouble was more likely in the West Bank. The book further alleges that Netanyahu did not brief then-IDF chief Herzi Halevi, Bar, or then-Mossad chief David Barnea about this call. Netanyahu's office has rejected the account as "a complete lie," stating he "did not speak with the president of the United Arab Emirates during the period in question and received no warning from him." Bar and Halevi also denied being informed of such a warning. However, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett affirmed the report's truth, calling Netanyahu's disregard "criminal negligence."