Gaza war - "New York Times": Israel had Hamas attack plans for a long time
According to a report in theNew York Times, Israel had evidence of a planned major attack by the Islamist group Hamas more than a year before October 7.
According to the report, there was an extensive exchange between Israeli authorities on a 40-page document codenamed "Jericho Wall", which outlined a Hamas battle plan. This is said to have resembled in every detail the attack that Hamas terrorists then carried out from the Gaza Strip at the beginning of October, the US newspaper reported on Thursday.
According to the report, the draft had already come into the hands of Israeli authorities "last year" - more than a year before the attack - and then circulated in military and intelligence circles. However, it was ultimately dismissed by the experts as too sophisticated and difficult for Hamas to execute.
Document described exact methodical raid
The document, which according to the newspaper was translated, did not contain a date for an attack, but described a precise methodical raid to overcome the fortifications around the Gaza Strip, capture Israeli towns and storm important military bases, including a division headquarters. According to the document, the plan was for rocket fire at the beginning, drones to disable the surveillance cameras and automated machine guns along the border, and fighters to invade Israel en masse by parachute, motorcycle or on foot. A plan that Hamas ultimately followed "with terrifying precision", as the newspaper wrote.
Three months before the actual attack, according to emails seen by The New York Times, an intelligence analyst in the decoding unit warned that Hamas had undergone training that closely resembled the "Jericho Wall" document. "I strongly disagree that the scenario is imaginary," she wrote to an army colonel in the Gaza unit. "It is a plan designed to start a war. It's not just a raid on a village." But the military colleague stood by his assessment that Hamas was incapable of actually carrying out such a comprehensive plan. "In short, let's wait patiently," his response read.
"Attack was a failure on our part"
"There is no doubt that the October 7 attack was a failure on our part. Of course it was a failure," Israeli government spokeswoman Tal Heinrich told the US broadcaster CNN that night. Israel would investigate what had happened in detail and learn from it. When asked to what extent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knew about the attack scenario or had read the documents, Heinrich said: "We will investigate. The Prime Minister has also spoken about this. When the time is right, he will say more."
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- Despite dismissing the "Jericho Wall" document as too complicated for Hamas to execute, Israeli authorities should have taken the attack plans by Hamas more seriously, given the detailed and methodical raid described in the document.
- The USA, being aware of Israel's evidence, had an opportunity to intervene or take preventive measures to avoid the potential conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
- The New York Times report highlighted the importance of monitoring and investigating Terrorism activities in the Middle East, as the Hamas plans showed a high degree of sophistication and potential for effective implementation.
- The failure of Israel to properly assess the threat posed by Hamas' attack plans resulted in a high number of casualties and escalated conflicts in the Palestinian territories, such as the Gaza Strip.
- The involvement of the Major attack in New York, although unrelated, emphasizes the international consequences of failed security and intelligence measures, showcasing the global interconnectedness of Terrorism.
- The Secret service should have prioritized the investigation of the warning emails regarding the potential Hamas attack plan, considering the significance of avoiding terror acts and preventing potential loss of life.
- The inaction of Israeli authorities towards Hamas' attack plans could be interpreted as negligence upon assessing critical intelligence, adding to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, specifically in the Gaza Strip.
- The lessons learned from the failure to address Hamas' attack plans are vital in ensuring improved intelligence analysis, preventing future attacks, and fostering peace in the Middle East, including Israeli-Palestinian territories.
Source: www.stern.de
