Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Netanyahu Makes Unannounced UAE Visit Amid Disputed Hamas Warning
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, reportedly visited Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
Israeli officials and media said the visit was not announced beforehand and lasted one day.
Reports said he met the UAE’s president, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Netanyahu’s office did not immediately confirm the meeting.
The visit happened after a newspaper reported that the UAE president warned Netanyahu about a planned Hamas attack before October 7, 2023.
Netanyahu says that report is untrue and threatened to take legal action against the newspaper.
The UAE has not directly commented on the warning claim.
Israel and the UAE have kept communication channels open since making diplomatic ties in 2020.
The purpose of the reported visit was not stated.
An Israeli official said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Abu Dhabi on Sunday for a one-day, unannounced visit.
Israeli media reported that Netanyahu met UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, but Netanyahu’s office did not immediately comment.
The visit followed a Haaretz report alleging that Sheikh Mohamed warned Netanyahu about a planned Hamas operation before October 7, 2023.
Netanyahu denied the warning report and threatened legal action against Haaretz; Israeli opposition leaders accuse him of responsibility for security failures.
The UAE has not commented on the report but says Israel and the UAE have maintained open communication since establishing diplomatic relations in 2020.
- Who
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan are central to the report.
- What
- Netanyahu reportedly made an unannounced visit to Abu Dhabi and met the UAE president, amid a dispute over an alleged warning about Hamas.
- When
- The reported visit took place on Sunday; the alleged warning concerned the period before October 7, 2023.
- Where
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
- Why
- The purpose of the visit was not stated; it occurred after reports about an alleged Hamas warning and during continuing regional conflict involving Israel, the United States and Iran.
Netanyahu and UAE-Linked Position
Haaretz and Opposition Claims
Whether the warning was delivered
Netanyahu and UAE-Linked Position
Netanyahu denies that Sheikh Mohamed warned him about a planned Hamas operation before October 7, 2023. A UAE source said security matters are handled through relevant entities rather than at the level of national leaders.
Haaretz and Opposition Claims
Haaretz reported that Sheikh Mohamed directly warned Netanyahu, and Israeli opposition leaders accuse Netanyahu of responsibility for security failures before the October 7 attack.
Whether the reported visit included a meeting
Netanyahu and UAE-Linked Position
The Israeli prime minister’s office did not immediately comment, and the UAE has not publicly confirmed the reported meeting.
Haaretz and Opposition Claims
Israeli media outlets reported that Netanyahu made an unannounced one-day visit and met Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
- Reported visitor
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
- Reported destination
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Reported meeting
- Israeli media said Netanyahu met UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during a one-day visit.
- Warning allegation
- Haaretz reported that Sheikh Mohamed warned Netanyahu about a major Hamas operation before October 7, 2023.
- Netanyahu’s response
- Netanyahu denied the report and threatened legal action against Haaretz.
- UAE position
- The UAE declined to comment on the report but said Israel and the UAE maintain open and direct communication lines.
- Diplomatic ties
- Israel and the UAE established diplomatic relations in 2020 through the US-negotiated Abraham Accords.
