Egypt spy chief flew to Israel 11 days before Oct. 7 with warning on Gaza, report say
Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel reportedly flew to Israel on September 26, 2023, 11 days before the Oct. 7 attack, to deliver an urgent warning about a dangerous escalation in Gaza. He urged Israel to make economic concessions to Hamas to avert conflict, though he did not provide specific operational details about the impending assault. The impact of his warning within the Israeli system remains unresolved.
Why it matters
This report sheds light on potential intelligence failures or ignored warnings leading up to the devastating Oct. 7 attack, raising critical questions about decision-making and communication within the Israeli government and intelligence apparatus.
Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel flew to Israel on Sept. 26, 2023, just 11 days before the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack, carrying an urgent warning that Gaza was nearing a dangerous escalation and urging economic concessions to avert conflict, The Atlantic reported, citing Israeli, Egyptian, Arab, U.S. and European officials briefed on the visit. The visit came on the same day Israel’s leadership gathered in Jerusalem to mark the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used the ceremony to reflect on the failures that preceded the 1973 surprise attack by Egypt and Syria. “We do not underestimate any threat,” he said. Roughly two hours before Netanyahu spoke, a chartered Cessna linked to Egypt’s intelligence service landed at Ben Gurion Airport and taxied to an isolated area used for sensitive diplomatic and security missions.
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