'Gaza on verge of exploding': Egypt spy chief warned Israel before Oct 7
A report suggests that Egypt's intelligence chief warned Israeli officials of a potential major attack from Gaza just days before the October 7, 2023, Hamas incursion. Israeli officials have provided conflicting accounts regarding whether such a warning was received or acknowledged.
Why it matters
This raises significant questions regarding intelligence failures and the internal communication processes within the Israeli government prior to the conflict.
Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel travelled to Israel days before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and warned Israeli officials that Gaza was heading towards a dangerous escalation, according to a report by The Atlantic.Kamel arrived at Ben Gurion Airport on September 26, 2023, in a chartered plane linked to Egypt’s intelligence service, according to the report. His visit came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other leaders were marking the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, the surprise attack by Egypt and Syria that Israel has long treated as a lesson in intelligence failures.According to Israeli, Egyptian, Arab, US and European officials who were briefed on the visit after October 7, Kamel told Israeli officials that Hamas appeared to be preparing for a major attack.
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