Israel's Netanyahu to sue newspaper over claim UAE warned him of 7 October attack

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been ordered to sue an Israeli newspaper over a report that the leader of the United Arab Emirates warned him of an imminent attack by Hamas just days before the 7 October 2023 attacks. The report, published by Haaretz, claims that UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had a phone call with Netanyahu that September, in which he warned of a major operation. Netanyahu's office has denied the report, calling it part of a 'sinister plot'. Haaretz has stood by its reporting, saying its 'sole purpose is to silence journalistic criticism'. The report has reignited accusations against Netanyahu that he did not act quickly enough after the attack began, with some critics calling for an independent public inquiry into the matter. The 7 October 2023 attack, in which thousands of Hamas-led gunmen breached the Gaza border fence, killed over 1,200 people and left 251 hostages in Gaza. The military campaign that followed resulted in the deaths of at least 73,670 people, according to Hamas-run health ministry figures. The general election campaign in Israel is currently underway, with polls on 27 October widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu's leadership. Netanyahu has resisted calls for an independent public inquiry into the attack, and the latest report is expected to fuel further criticism of his handling of the situation.