Netanyahu Admits Egyptian Intelligence Chief Visited Israel Before Oct 7
Benjamin Netanyahu admitted Egypt's former intelligence chief visited Israel before the October 7 attacks but denied meeting him personally to receive warnings.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted Tuesday that Abbas Kamel, Egypt's former intelligence chief, visited Israel on September 26, 2023, shortly before the October 7 Hamas attacks. The admission follows previous denials from Netanyahu, who had previously dismissed reports of such warnings as "fake news."
In an interview with Channel 14, Netanyahu claimed he did not meet or speak with Kamel, stating he was attending a memorial ceremony for fallen IDF soldiers during the visit. He cited the "deep state" to explain his ignorance of which Israeli official met with Kamel and called for an investigation into the meeting.
Reports from The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and Yedioth Ahronoth indicate that Kamel warned Israel of a "terrifying" operation planned by Hamas and urged economic concessions to prevent the disaster. While Netanyahu denies direct contact, some reports suggest Kamel called him days before the attack.
Separately, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Iran and its proxies may attempt to influence the upcoming October 27 election through military attacks.
