The Hamas wanted to execute a large attack on Israeli civilians to mark the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks, Tel Aviv claimed on Saturday.
According to the Israeli military, the plan to shock Israel with another bloody strike on October 7 was nipped in the bud by the Israel Defense Force (IDF) through the execution of the two Hamas leaders who were entrusted with leading the operation.
ALSO READ | Terror threat: Israel urges citizens to leave tourist destinations in southern Sri Lanka
It was a West Bank-based cell of Hamas who was tasked with the daunting operation. The operatives in charge of planning and executing a second October 7 attack were identified as Zahi Oufi and Islam Oda by the IDF. While Oufi was neutralised by the Israeli Air Force on October 3 in Tulkarm of West Bank, it was a ground operation that got Oda, Jerusalem Post quoted the IDF as saying.
Hamas was forced to postpone the plan to execute the attack on October 7 as they lost Oufi. Oda, meanwhile, received the additional charge of leading the outfit in Tulkarm in his late comrade's place. However, he planned to strike Israel in the near future, IDF claimed sans giving any details.
It was a joint-op by Israel's internal security agency Shin Bet, National Counter-Terrorism Unit Yamam and the IDF that led to the elimination of Islam Oda. After Shin Bet was able to gather specific intelligence on his whereabouts, the combat units encircled him, leading to a gunfight.
Oda was killed in the encounter, following which the Israeli units found weapons and raw materials to make explosives, the Jerusalem Post said.
On October 7, 2023, more than 1,200 men, women and children, including 46 Americans and citizens of more than 30 countries, were killed and 254 others were taken hostage by Hamas in a cross-border attack on Israel. The attack led to a full-fledged invasion of Gaza by the IDF which have claimed thousands of lives so far.