On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, it was revealed that Egypt had warned Israel about the possibility of violence three days before a significant attack by Hamas, according to Republican Michael McCaul, the chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee. The attack by more than 1,500 militants on the Gaza security barrier was a coordinated operation that included land, air, and sea elements and is considered the deadliest attack in Israel’s 75-year history.
During a closed-door intelligence briefing for lawmakers on the ongoing crisis, Michael McCaul stated, “We know that Egypt has warned the Israelis three days prior that an event like this could happen.” He did not disclose classified details but confirmed that a warning was issued. The level at which this warning was conveyed remains uncertain.
The attack carried out by Hamas has raised questions about the intelligence capabilities of Israel and its US allies. Hamas managed to prepare and launch a large-scale assault from the heavily monitored and guarded Gaza Strip without being detected, marking a significant intelligence failure.
As a result of the attack, more than 1,200 people were killed, and over 2,700 were wounded as Hamas militants entered small towns and kibbutzim, targeting both residents who sought shelter in their homes and those who defended their communities.
In response, Israel has launched relentless strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza. The conflict has already resulted in the loss of more than 3,700 lives, including civilians, soldiers, and combatants from both Israeli and Palestinian sides.
President Joe Biden in Washington has pledged to send additional US munitions and military equipment to support Israel. He expressed his revulsion at the civilian casualties, describing the events as “sheer evil.”
Michael McCaul suggested that the attack may have been planned as long as a year ago, expressing uncertainty about how it went unnoticed by both the United States and Israel.
While Egyptian officials have not officially commented on the alleged warning, Egyptian media outlets with close ties to the country’s intelligence services have cited senior security sources denying Israeli reports that such a warning was issued.
