Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pursuing a libel lawsuit against Haaretz following a report that he received an early warning from the UAE regarding the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his legal team to sue the newspaper Haaretz and journalist Shlomi Eldar for libel. The legal action follows a report alleging that Netanyahu received a warning from the United Arab Emirates prior to the Hamas incursion on Oct. 7, 2023.

Government Response to Allegations

The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement labeling the Haaretz report as "completely fabricated." According to the office, a review of Netanyahu’s call logs and visitor records from early September 2023 through the date of the attack showed no communication or meetings with Emirati representatives. The office further characterized the publication as a politically motivated campaign ahead of Israel’s Oct. 27 elections.

Criticism and Calls for Inquiry

The report has intensified pressure from opposition leaders, including Naftali Bennett, Gadi Eisenkot, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan. The group issued a joint statement demanding the immediate formation of a state commission of inquiry into the events surrounding the Oct. 7 attack. They accused the Prime Minister of disregarding direct warnings, a claim Netanyahu has resisted while maintaining that inquiries into responsibility should occur after the war. Additionally, the Prime Minister’s Office attributed failures related to the attack to former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and former army chief Herzi Halevi, alleging they did not inform Netanyahu of indications of an attack in time.