Gaza war: Hamas tried to persuade Iran and Hezbollah to join its October 7 attack on Israel, says report
File photo.
Hamas tried to persuade its two allies, Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, to join its October 7, 2023, attack against Israelor at least commit to a broader fight if the Palestinian militant group staged a surprise cross-border raid, The New York Times (NYT) reported on Saturday, citing the minutes of Hamas'secret meetingsseized by the Israeli military.
The report said that the documents showed extensive effortsto deceive Israel about its intentions as Hamas laid thegroundwork for a bold assault and a regional conflagration that Hamas chief YahyaSinwar hoped would cause Israel to “collapse.”
The documents consist of minutes from 10 secret planning meetings of a small group of Hamas political and military leaders in the run-up to the attack.
Hamas planned to attack in fall of 2022
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The documents showed that Hamas initially planned to carry out its attack on Israel in the fall of 2022but delayed it as the Palestinian militant group was persuading Iran and Hezbollah to also participate in it.
Hamas members said that the internal situation in Israel,an apparent reference to theturmoil over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial plans to overhaul the judiciary,was among the reasons they were “compelled to move toward a strategic battle”.
The documents cited by The NYTfurther revealed that in July 2023, a top Hamas official visited Lebanon, where he met a seniorIranian commander and requested help with striking sensitive sites at the start of the assault.
Also watch |Israeli PM warns Lebanon with 'Gaza-like destruction'
This Iranian commander told the Hamas official that Tehran and Hezbollah weresupportive in principle but needed more time to prepare.
Hamas planned to discuss attack with Hassan Nasrallah
Hamas planned to discuss its attack with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was recently assassinated by Israel. It was not known whether the discussion with Hezbollah happened.
Hamas felt assured of its allies’ general support but concluded it might need to go ahead without their full involvement.
The documents also highlighted that Hamas deliberately avoidedconfrontations with Israel for two years from 2021so that it could maximise the surprise of the October 7 attack.
The Gaza war
Hamas militants attacked southern Israel (on October 7 last year), killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 others hostage, according to Israeli tallies. More than 100 hostages are reportedly still held by the Hamas.
Israel's subsequent military assault on Gaza has killed more than 42,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry.
(With inputs from agencies)