A recent report has claimed that Hamas meticulously planned the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel for more than two years. The report cites minutes of secret Hamas meetings found on a computer seized by the Israeli military in Gaza in January as evidence.
According to the report, Hamas had been deliberately avoiding major escalations with Israel since 2021 to lower the guard of Israeli leaders. Initially planning to carry out the attack in the fall of 2022, Hamas postponed its actions as it sought to persuade Iran and Hezbollah to join forces.
The report reveals that a high-ranking Hamas official met with senior Iranian commander Mohammed Said Izadi in Lebanon in July 2023 to seek assistance in targeting sensitive Israeli sites. Izadi reportedly expressed Iran and Hezbollah's support in principle but indicated the need for more time to 'prepare the environment.'
Iran and Hezbollah have vehemently denied the allegations, with Iran's Mission to the United Nations dismissing the cited minutes as fabricated. The statement emphasized that Hamas officials based in Doha had no prior knowledge of the operation, attributing all planning and execution to Hamas's military wing in Gaza.
Similarly, a Hezbollah spokesperson reiterated that Hezbollah had no knowledge of the operation, referencing statements made by the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
The Israeli military, Hamas, and Hezbollah were approached for comments on the report. While the Israeli military declined to provide a response, Hamas and Hezbollah did not respond to requests for comments from the newspaper.
