Netanyahu Announces Defamation Lawsuit Against Haaretz Over Disputed UAE Hamas Warning Report

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally announced his intention to pursue legal action against the prominent left-leaning daily newspaper Haaretz. The legal challenge follows the publication of an explosive investigative report alleging that the leader of the United Arab Emirates directly warned Netanyahu about an impending large-scale Hamas assault in the weeks leading up to the October 7, 2023 tragedy.

Netanyahu confirmed that he has instructed his legal counsel to file a defamation lawsuit targeting the news organization. The legal warning precedes a formal libel suit that specifically names the publication alongside contributing journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval. The prime minister’s legal team had previously dispatched a formal warning notice to the news outlet prior to the public announcement of the lawsuit.

In a public statement posted to the social media platform X, Netanyahu rejected the claims in their entirety, stating unequivocally that no communication of any kind occurred between himself and Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed between early September and October 7, 2023. Official spokespersons from the Prime Minister’s Office had also previously released statements dismissing the report as entirely unfounded.

According to the account published by Haaretz, Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed allegedly placed a telephone call to Netanyahu from the presidential compound in Abu Dhabi roughly ten days before the October 7 cross-border attack. The report indicated that the high-level diplomatic phone call lasted approximately 45 minutes, during which the security situation was discussed in detail.

The article stated that the Emirati head of state explicitly alerted Netanyahu that Yahya al-Sinwar, who was then serving as the top leader of the Islamist militant group Hamas, was actively coordinating a massive offensive operation against Israel. The Emirati leader reportedly urged Netanyahu to take the intelligence seriously and initiate immediate military and defensive precautions.

According to the report, Netanyahu responded with notable composure to the warning, projecting confidence and assuring the Emirati president that Israel was fully equipped and prepared for any potential security scenario. The publication claimed that the prime minister's calm demeanor surprised the Emirati leadership, given the urgency of the communicated intelligence.

Haaretz further alleged that following the conversation, Netanyahu neglected to brief Israel’s senior defense leadership or pass the crucial warning along to the heads of the nation's security apparatus. The article claimed that no operational countermeasures or strategic adjustments were implemented based on the foreign leader's intelligence alert.

To substantiate its claims, the newspaper pointed to briefings given to three senior foreign government representatives who were purportedly informed about the details of the bilateral discussion. The article also cited an adviser to the Emirati president, described as possessing direct knowledge of the call, as a principal source behind the account.

Additional reporting from The Times of Israel presented similar claims, citing an informed Emirati source who asserted that the UAE president had indeed reached out to Netanyahu by telephone just days before the Hamas offensive to convey warnings of a planned mass-casualty operation.

When approached for confirmation regarding the alleged diplomatic exchange, representatives for the United Arab Emirates declined to provide comment. Emirati authorities maintained a strict policy against addressing speculative press reports or publicly discussing confidential dialogues between heads of state.

Despite the threat of severe legal consequences, Haaretz affirmed that it stands fully behind its published story and the investigative reporting of Eldar and Yuval. The publication indicated it is prepared to defend the accuracy of its reporting and sources throughout any ensuing courtroom proceedings.

The controversy unfolds during an exceptionally volatile political environment in Israel, as the country prepares for critical parliamentary elections scheduled to take place on October 27. The emergence of the report has intensified an already fierce electoral fight over national security and leadership credibility.

Netanyahu has characterized the timing of the investigative report as a calculated political attack, declaring the story to be completely fabricated and an integral component of the left-wing opposition's broader election campaign designed to undermine his candidacy.

Public opinion polling suggests an intensely divided electorate, with neither Netanyahu’s conservative political alliance nor the opposing bloc of rival factions currently projected to secure a clear parliamentary majority in the forthcoming vote.

The report has revitalized sharp criticism from political opponents, who argue that the prime minister continues to evade personal accountability for the massive security failure that occurred nearly three years ago. Critics have repeatedly taken issue with narratives that shift blame exclusively toward the military and intelligence services.

Opponents have also condemned the circulation of conspiracy theories alleging that senior military commanders possessed advance knowledge of the Hamas offensive but deliberately withheld the intelligence from the prime minister. As the election nears, the high-profile legal dispute with Haaretz is set to become a central flashpoint in Israel's national debate.