Hamas deliberately chose to lie low in the years before the October 7 incident, in order to more effectively carry out a surprise attack on Israel. It reports New York Timesciting minutes of several of Hamas’ secret meetings.
The documents also show that the terrorist attack was postponed for a whole year.
The newspaper states that it has read minutes from a total of ten of the terrorist organization’s meetings.
In the documents, the picture emerges of Hamas planning for many years the attack that was finally carried out on October 7, 2023 – and which led to Israel’s invasion of Gaza.
Among other things, Hamas is said to have tried to paint a picture that the organization wanted a de-escalation of the conflict with Israel and a focus on economic development. By avoiding “major confrontations” starting in 2021, the group’s leaders hoped to more easily launch a surprise attack.
Wanted to include Iran
According to the records, the attack was originally planned for the fall of 2022, but was delayed as Hamas tried to get Iran and the extremist group Hezbollah to participate. Among other things, it is stated that Hamas wanted Iran to attack sensitive Israeli facilities in connection with the terrorist act.
According to the newspaper, another reason why the attack was brought forward – and carried out at all – was the political situation that prevailed in Israel before the crime. Among other things, Hamas is said to have wanted to disrupt a thaw in relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, as well as take advantage of the messy situation the country was in during 2023. During the year, several large-scale protests had been carried out against the government’s plans for changes in the legal system.
Seized in Gaza
According to the New York Times, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar participated in all ten meetings, which are otherwise judged to have consisted of different compositions of high-ranking members of the organization. The protocols were seized by the Israeli Defense Forces in connection with a crackdown in southern Gaza.
In the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7 last year, approximately 1,200 people were killed.