Reports Detail Disputed Egyptian Warnings Before October 7

An investigation reported that Egypt’s then-intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, traveled to Israel on September 26, 2023, and warned officials that Hamas appeared to be preparing a major attack. Israeli officials dispute whether the visit or warning occurred, and the reported message did not specify a date, target or operational plan. The account said a plane linked to Egyptian intelligence landed at Ben Gurion Airport, stayed for about 67 minutes and returned to Cairo. It remains unclear whom Kamel met or how any warning was handled. Tzachi Hanegbi, who led Israel’s National Security Council at the time, denied that Kamel visited or that Egypt issued such a warning. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office also denied that he received a warning from Kamel. The same investigation reported that Egyptian officials continued raising concerns through October 5, two days before the October 7 attack. Those messages, too, reportedly lacked a date or method of attack. The investigation said Kamel urged Israeli officials to ease economic restrictions on Gaza, but did not provide details indicating the scale or timing of the assault that followed.