Former Palestinian Authority minister Sufian Abu Zaida has asserted that he served as the conduit for a warning from Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar to Israeli intelligence agencies in the weeks leading up to the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Abu Zaida, who previously headed the PA’s prisoner‑affairs portfolio, posted a video on Facebook stating that he was the unnamed source referenced in a recent Haaretz investigation by journalist Shlomi Eldar.
According to the report, Sinwar had warned that a collapse of negotiations with Israel over a long‑term arrangement would trigger an “earthquake,” a phrase interpreted as a threat of large‑scale violence. Abu Zaida said he conveyed this message to Israeli officials, though he did not specify which agency received the information or the exact timing of the transmission.
The claim was highlighted by The Times of Israel, which noted that Abu Zaida’s video identified him as the intermediary mentioned in the Haaretz expose. The outlet did not independently verify the content of the alleged warning or the details of any communication between the Palestinian minister and Israeli intelligence.
The revelation arrives amid ongoing investigations into the intelligence failures that preceded the Oct. 7 assault, which resulted in significant casualties and a major escalation of the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict. Israeli officials have previously acknowledged shortcomings in their ability to anticipate the attack, but have not publicly linked any specific warning to the events.
Abu Zaida’s statement adds a new dimension to the narrative surrounding pre‑attack intelligence, suggesting that a direct channel existed between Hamas leadership and the Palestinian Authority. The former minister’s role as a liaison, if substantiated, could have implications for the assessment of intra‑Palestinian coordination and the broader dynamics of the conflict.
The claim remains uncorroborated by independent sources, and Israeli authorities have not commented on the specific allegation. Further verification may be required to determine the extent to which the warning, if it existed, was acted upon or dismissed by Israeli security services.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Middle East Eye — original source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/former-palestinian-minister-claims-he-warned-israel-ahead-7-october.