Israel Received Hamas Warning Before October 7, Gallant Says
Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Hamas sent a warning through a Shin Bet channel before its October 7, 2023 attack. Separate reports describe Egyptian alerts to Netanyahu, but their interpretation remains disputed.
By DoomRadar · Published on DoomRadar . Updated .
Event date: The central event was the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and warnings delivered beforehand, including a message Gallant says Israel received before the assault. [1][2][3]
What happened
Gallant said Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar sent a message warning that he intended to “shake the prisons.” The message reached Israel through Hamas sources using a Shin Bet channel, according to Gallant’s account. [1]
References for this detail (1)
- El exministro Yoav Gallant afirma que Hamás avisó al Shin Bet antes de los ataques del 7 de octubre de 2023diariosigloxxi.com · Article published: Sep 27, 2026, 1:34 PM UTC
Gallant said Israeli security officials linked the message to a possible prisoner exchange, including Elizabeth Tsurkov, who had been abducted in Iraq months earlier. He said he was not told about other alleged warnings to Netanyahu while serving as defense minister. [1]
References for this detail (1)
- El exministro Yoav Gallant afirma que Hamás avisó al Shin Bet antes de los ataques del 7 de octubre de 2023diariosigloxxi.com · Article published: Sep 27, 2026, 1:34 PM UTC
Reports cited by The Wall Street Journal and The Atlantic described three Egyptian warnings to Netanyahu’s office. They included contacts by intelligence chief Abbas Kamel in June, September and shortly before the October 7 incursion. [2][3]
References for this detail (2)
- Netanyahu recibió tres alertas de Egipto antes del ataque de Hamás del 7 de octubre, según WSJdiariocorreo.pe · Article published: Sep 28, 2026, 1:39 AM UTC
- Egipto advirtió a Netanyahu sobre ataque de Hamás antes del 7 de octubrerpp.pe · Recorded source date: Sep 28, 2026, 1:16 AM UTC
The reported Egyptian messages referred to changes in Sinwar’s speeches, frequent Hamas meetings with Palestinian Islamic Jihad and worsening conditions in Gaza. They reportedly warned of a major operation but did not establish when it would occur or how large it would be. [2]
References for this detail (1)
- Netanyahu recibió tres alertas de Egipto antes del ataque de Hamás del 7 de octubre, según WSJdiariocorreo.pe · Article published: Sep 28, 2026, 1:39 AM UTC
Separate reporting said the United Arab Emirates’ president and regional officials also warned Netanyahu, while Netanyahu denied receiving some of those warnings. A CIA assessment reportedly mentioned possible rocket launches but did not anticipate the coordinated assault that occurred. [3][1]
References for this detail (2)
- El exministro Yoav Gallant afirma que Hamás avisó al Shin Bet antes de los ataques del 7 de octubre de 2023diariosigloxxi.com · Article published: Sep 27, 2026, 1:34 PM UTC
- Egipto advirtió a Netanyahu sobre ataque de Hamás antes del 7 de octubrerpp.pe · Recorded source date: Sep 28, 2026, 1:16 AM UTC
Context from the sources
The warnings were reported amid restrictions affecting Gaza, including the closure of the Erez crossing and a freeze on Qatari fuel funds. Hamas reportedly told Egypt on September 26 that Gaza was nearing collapse. [2][3]
Explore the sources and reporting timeline
3 source links · 3 domains
These counts describe the references, not independent confirmations. Different outlets can repeat the same original report.
Source timeline
Oldest to newest among the available source dates, not a chronology of the incident. Article publication dates come from the source; other recorded dates may reflect when a link was found.
- [1] El exministro Yoav Gallant afirma que Hamás avisó al Shin Bet antes de los ataques del 7 de octubre de 2023diariosigloxxi.comReferenced for: detail 1, detail 2, detail 5
- [3] Egipto advirtió a Netanyahu sobre ataque de Hamás antes del 7 de octubrerpp.peReferenced for: detail 3, detail 5
- [2] Netanyahu recibió tres alertas de Egipto antes del ataque de Hamás del 7 de octubre, según WSJdiariocorreo.peReferenced for: detail 3, detail 4
Questions answered by the reporting
What did Gallant say the Hamas message meant?
He said Israeli security officials interpreted Yahya Sinwar’s phrase about “shaking the prisons” as possibly relating to a prisoner exchange, including the case of Elizabeth Tsurkov. [1]
What this could mean for you
Further political and institutional scrutiny in Israel
New testimony and reporting may reopen questions about warning assessment, information sharing and preparedness before the attack
Reported basis: [1][2][3] · The possible effect is interpretation.
Depends on: If additional records or testimony substantiate the warnings and show they reached relevant decision-makers
Possible time frame: months, if those conditions hold.
Possible consequences, not a forecast. Their relevance depends on your location and the conditions above.
For your country
Choose a country to check how this event could affect you.
What changes the outlook
Risk increases if…
Additional evidence could show that senior officials received specific, actionable warnings but failed to respond.
Conflicting official accounts could deepen public distrust in security institutions.
Pressure eases if…
A documented review could clarify which warnings were received, how they were interpreted and where the decision process failed.
Still unclear
It remains unclear which senior Israeli officials received each warning and what actions, if any, followed.
The competing accounts about Netanyahu’s receipt of regional warnings have not been resolved in the provided reporting.
Market implications
Market impact
Sources (3)
References for the reported details. Separate links do not necessarily mean independent confirmation.
Available excerpt
Recalca que el mensaje de Sinwar amenazó con "sacudir las prisiones" y agrega que Netanyahu le mantuvo al margen de conversaciones con EEUU El exministro…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
Available excerpt
El primer ministro de Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, y miembros de su equipo de seguridad habrían recibido varias alertas de funcionarios egipcios antes de la incursión…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
Available excerpt
Varios informes de medios internacionales revelan que la inteligencia egipcia y líderes regionales alertaron repetidamente al primer ministro israelí sobre un inminente ataque dirigido desde…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
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