Former PA minister claims he was asked by Hamas’s Sinwar to relay pre-Oct. 7 message to Israel

A former Palestinian Authority minister revealed on Friday that he served as a mediator between Israel and Hamas in the lead-up to the terror group’s October 7, 2023, onslaught and said that he will soon reveal details of those talks, including a message that he passed to Israel from then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

Shortly after Sufian Abu Zaida posted a video on Facebook making the revelation, Israeli journalist Shlomi Eldar identified the former PA minister for prisoner affairs as the source who helped spur an urgent phone call to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed 10 days before October 7, during which the latter warned that Hamas was planning a major offensive against Israel.

Eldar first revealed the call from bin Zayed earlier this month, in a story that sparked massive uproar in Israel, as it alleged that Netanyahu did not act on the information. The prime minister has vehemently denied that any such call took place.

“Over the next few days, I will discuss the nature of the contacts I held over a year and a half between Israel and Hamas, which were aimed at reaching a deal to secure the release of the prisoners held by Hamas,” Abu Zaida says in his video statement, referring to two Israeli civilians who were being held by Hamas after wandering into Gaza, along with the bodies of two IDF soldiers.

Abu Zaida said that in exchange for the four Israelis, the sides had discussed Jerusalem releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, easing its blockade of Gaza, allowing Palestinian workers to enter Israel and resolving the enclave’s electricity and water crises.

“I will also discuss the message that… Sinwar asked me to convey to the Israeli side,” Abu Zaida said, urging viewers to tune in to the Egyptian Al-Ghad TV channel where he would be giving an interview in the coming days.