The devastating Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulted in the loss of over 1,200 lives. Over 100 people were taken hostages by the Palestinian militant group sparking an all-out war in the region. Was the attack a sudden act of violence or a meticulously planned one?
Reportedly, Hamas had planned to attack Israel in 2022. The group had delayed the attack to coordinate with Iran and Hezbollah, seeking to strengthen their military capabilities and secure additional funding.
The series of reports by the US media outlets reveal that the Hamas leaders and Iranian officials meticulously planned the October 7 attack.
A large-scale operation was discussed by the Hamas leaders as early as January 2022. The operation, called the 'big project' aimed at crippling Israel's military. A series of high-level meetings were held by Hamas military and political leadership over the course of two years.
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar played a key role in these discussions, along with top Hamas commanders Muhammad Sinwar, Muhammed Deif, and Marwan Issa.
Reportedly, the meeting continued till August 2023 with discussions focused on potential targets and logistical strategies.
The US media reported that the militant group sought financial and military support from regional powers, particularly Iran. "We promise you that we will not waste a minute or a penny unless it takes us toward achieving this sacred goal," Sinwar reportedly wrote.
Hamas had made a request for $500 million to be distributed over two years to carry out the 'big project'.
Accessing the documents obtained by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), The Washington Post reported that Hamas postponed its attack initially scheduled for late 2022 due to efforts to enlist more substantial help from Iran and Hezbollah.
Hamas’s deputy, Khalil al-Hayya, traveled to Lebanon in August 2023 to meet with senior commander in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammed Said Izadi, to discuss the operational details of the assault. Izadi expressed Iran and Hezbollah's tentative support but said that they needed more time to "prepare the environment" for a broader regional escalation.
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Significantly, the Hamas attack came at a time when Israel was on the verge of deploying a new advanced air defence system by mid-2023, which threatened their plans for assault, reported the New York Times.
Another revelation from the IDF documents is Hamas’s plan was to carry out a 9/11-style bombing in Israel, targeting the iconic Azrieli Towers in Tel Aviv, the Washington Post reported. However, the plan was dropped later after discussions and came to terms that Hamas lacked the capability to execute the plan.
By September 2022, Hamas leaders believed they were ready to launch their attack, beginning with strikes on Israeli military bases before expanding to civilian areas. However, the assault was again postponed.
After years of planning and months of preparation, Hamas finally decided to strike on October 7, 2023. The strike also coincided with Simhat Torah, a Jewish holiday when Israel would be vulnerable due to holiday observances and lower military readiness.
