Egypt reportedly warned Israel of a major Hamas attack in September 2023

Egypt’s intelligence chief at the time, Abbas Kamel, made an exceptionally rare and discreet visit to Israel on September 26, 2023, according to an investigation discussed by France 24. The visit took place as Israel’s national security establishment gathered to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War and one of the country’s major intelligence failures.

France 24 said Kamel delivered a stark warning about the dangerous situation unfolding in Gaza. The program’s summary does not provide the precise wording of the warning, the specific intelligence behind it, or the Israeli officials who received it.

The report was presented by Vivian Salama, identified by France 24 as an attorney and staff writer at The Atlantic who has reported from more than 85 countries. Its headline says Egypt warned Israel of a “major” Hamas attack and questions whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was aware of the warning.

The supplied account does not establish how Israeli authorities responded, whether the warning was shared across Israel’s national security establishment, or what decisions followed the visit. It also does not provide further details about the timing or circumstances of the subsequent Hamas attack.