Egyptian intelligence chief warned Israel of Hamas attack risk in September 2023

September 27, 2026 at 08:37 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel flew to Israel on September 26, 2023, to warn that Hamas was preparing a major attack, The Atlantic reported. Kamel did not provide a date, targets, or method, and Israel's then-national security adviser denied the visit took place.

Key Facts

Abbas Kamel, then Egypt's intelligence chief, landed at Ben Gurion Airport on September 26, 2023, about two hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at a Yom Kippur War anniversary event.
Kamel's plane remained in Israel for 67 minutes before returning to Cairo, according to Israel Airports Authority flight logs cited by The Atlantic.
The Atlantic reported that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed also conveyed a similar warning to Netanyahu, urging him to ease economic restrictions on Gaza.
Tzachi Hanegbi, who headed Israel's National Security Council at the time, told The Atlantic that neither Kamel's visit nor the Egyptian warning occurred.

The Warning Visit

Abbas Kamel, then head of Egyptian intelligence, flew to Israel on September 26, 2023, to warn that Hamas was preparing a major attack, The Atlantic reported, citing Israeli, Egyptian, Arab, American, and European officials. A Cessna linked to Egyptian intelligence landed at Ben Gurion Airport about two hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at an event marking the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War. The aircraft was directed to an isolated section of the airport used for confidential diplomatic and security missions. Kamel recommended that Israeli authorities grant Hamas economic concessions to prevent escalation, according to a former Israeli official who was later briefed on the visit. The intelligence chief did not provide a date, targets, or method for the potential attack, and The Atlantic could not establish whom he met.

Flight Records and Reactions

Kamel's plane remained in Israel for 67 minutes before returning to Cairo, according to Israel Airports Authority flight logs cited by The Atlantic. Independent flight-tracking services confirmed the route, the magazine reported. A former Israeli official said the visit itself was the message: 'The message was the messenger.' After the memorial ceremony, Netanyahu participated in a closed briefing and later approved some economic concessions for Gaza, according to his public schedule cited by The Atlantic. Tzachi Hanegbi, who headed Israel's National Security Council at the time, told The Atlantic that neither Kamel's visit nor the Egyptian warning occurred.

Continued Warnings and Denials

Egypt continued to warn Israel of a possible attack until October 5, 2023, American, Egyptian, and Israeli officials told The Atlantic. Those messages also lacked a date, targets, or method of attack. UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed conveyed a similar warning to Netanyahu, urging him to ease economic restrictions on Gaza, the magazine reported. Representatives of Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi did not respond to The Atlantic's requests for comment.