President Donald Trump pushed back Thursday against recent reports alleging that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received warnings from Egypt and the United Arab Emirates ahead of Hamas’ October 7, 2023 massacre, saying he does not believe Netanyahu would have failed to act had he known an attack was coming.

Speaking in an interview with TIME magazine that was conducted on September 28 and published Thursday, Trump said the allegations were new to him.

“I don’t think so,” Trump said when asked whether Netanyahu had received such warnings.

Trump said he believed Netanyahu would have taken action if he had received advance knowledge of the impending attack.

“I think if he knew, he would have done something about it. He certainly would have had, at a minimum, his people on alert,” Trump said.

The president added that he “can’t imagine” Netanyahu receiving such a warning and failing to respond.

Trump’s comments come amid an escalating controversy in Israel over reports concerning what information Netanyahu and other senior officials received in the days and weeks preceding the October 7 massacre.

The Wall Street Journal reported this week, citing Arab officials, that Egypt conveyed several warnings to Israel regarding escalating danger from Gaza before the attack, including communications involving then-Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.

Separate reports have alleged that UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed also warned Netanyahu of a major move being prepared by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

Netanyahu has categorically denied the allegations.

During a CNN interview this week, Netanyahu was directly asked about reports that Egypt and the UAE had warned him before October 7.

“First of all, those reports are false,” Netanyahu responded.

The controversy has taken on additional significance with Israelis preparing to vote in national elections later this month.

Trump was also asked by TIME whether he supported Netanyahu for another term as prime minister, but declined to offer an endorsement.

“I’m not involved in politics anymore,” Trump said.

Asked whether he believed he could have a more productive relationship with former IDF chief of staff and Yashar! party chairman Gadi Eisenkot, Trump said he was unfamiliar with him.

“I don’t know. I haven’t heard bad things about him,” Trump said.

Trump nevertheless cautioned against counting Netanyahu out politically, noting that the Israeli leader has repeatedly survived predictions that his political career was finished.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)