Netanyahu makes surprise UAE trip to meet President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Report

Israeli media reported on Sunday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an unannounced one-day visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he met with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The reported trip comes as the Middle East remains embroiled in the Israel-US war with Iran, which began in February. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)Israeli television channels 12 and KAN, along with the newspapers Haaretz and The Jerusalem Post, reported the visit, according to an AFP news agency report. Netanyahu’s office had not immediately issued a comment.

Also Read | UAE warned Netanyahu of Hamas plan days before 2023 attack? New report makes shocking claims

The reported trip comes as West Asia remains embroiled in the Israel-US war with Iran, which began in February.

The visit follows a recent report in the Israeli media alleging that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed had warned Netanyahu about the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. According to the report, the warning was not passed on to Israeli security officials.

As per the report by Haaretz, Mohamed bin Zayed spoke with Netanyahu about a week and a half before the attack and had warned him that Hamas was preparing a major operation.

About ten days before the attack, Netanyahu was reportedly warned during a 45-minute conversation that then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning a major operation against Israel.

Netanyahu’s office dismissed the newspaper’s report as “an absolute lie,” stating that the prime minister had not spoken with the Emirati president during the period in question and had received no warning from him.

Former military commander Gadi Eisenkot, who has emerged as a leading rival to Netanyahu ahead of the October 27 elections, accused the prime minister of attempting to evade responsibility for the security failures.

“Netanyahu received dozens of warnings about October 7 and ignored them all,” Eisenkot wrote on X, adding that he was “unfit.”

Israel and the UAE officially established diplomatic relations in 2020 under Abraham Accords negotiated by the US.

The Abraham Accords were initially brokered by Donald Trump during his first term as US president. According to Reuters, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed the agreements in 2020, becoming the first Arab countries in 25 years to formally establish diplomatic relations with Israel and breaking a long-standing regional taboo.

Prerna is a Contributor at Hindustan Times, with an academic background in English literature. After completing her BA in English at Gargi College, she went on to pursue an MA in English from JNU, where she developed a strong foundation in critical thinking and research, and a deeper engagement with cultural and social questions. She previously interned with the Indian Express at the Education Desk. Her writing and research interests span culture, literature, art, and education, with a particular focus on Indian speculative fiction and its intersections with gender and queerness. Her academic background informs her approach to writing, combining research with clear, accessible communication. Outside of work and academia, Prerna is an avid reader and enjoys birdwatching.Read More