Israel Releases Document on Planned Hamas Attack

On Sunday, Israel made public a document outlining a strategy devised by the late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other operatives aimed at executing and broadcasting a mass murder on October 7, 2023.

This document comprises a six-page memo that Israel alleges was authored by Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces a year prior, along with additional orders and intercepted communications captured by Israeli intelligence.

The New York Times discussed the contents of the released document:

A memo obtained by the New York Times indicates that Sinwar instructed militants to target both soldiers and civilians while broadcasting violent acts to instill fear in Israelis and destabilize the government. Commanders apparently reiterated similar instructions on October 7, as revealed by hours of previously unreported communications intercepted by Israel during the raid.

When queried about confronting individuals on the streets, a commander known as Abu Mu’ath responded affirmatively, stating, “Kill everyone on the streets.” He added, “I’ll kill everyone I meet.”

During the interceptions from October 7, Hamas leaders encouraged fighters to record their actions to motivate others to join their cause. Abu Albala, a commander from Gaza City, was heard telling operatives in Kibbutz Sa’ad, “Record the scene of horror now and broadcast it to the whole world on television channels. Kill them. Put an end to the children of Israel.”

The Meir Amit Intelligence Terrorism Information Center shared a more extensive analysis of the document on Sunday:

• Sinwar was confident that the planned Hamas offensive would involve a complex operation including Israeli Arabs and regions such as Judea, Samaria, and East Jerusalem, along with a potential invasion of northern Israel by Hezbollah.
• A significant portion of the document discusses the psychological aspect of the attacks, with Sinwar providing explicit orders for Hamas operatives to document massacres of civilians, desecrate bodies of soldiers, set fire to residential areas, and destroy tanks. This documentation aimed not only for internal purposes but also to serve as a psychological weapon to shock the Israeli public and demonstrate strength against local operatives.
• The document illustrates Sinwar’s meticulous oversight of the invasion executed in the early hours of October 7, 2023. According to the ITIC, Sinwar sought not merely large-scale attacks but a fundamental shift in control on the ground by seizing command centers, communication hubs, and IDF bases, utilizing Israel’s initial chaos to establish a new reality.

Hezbollah did participate in the attack the following day but was not prepared for an invasion into Israel. Israeli soldiers and civilians quickly mobilized to the front lines to counter the Hamas offensive, providing crucial time for the nation to regroup.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs also shared an image of Sinwar’s memo on social media for public viewing.

Pro-Palestinian activists commenced rallies following the attack on October 7, labeling Israeli actions as “genocide” and celebrating the attack as a pivotal moment against Israel.

The disclosure of Sinwar’s memo comes on the heels of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas facilitated by US President Donald Trump. Israel is keen for the international community to remember the circumstances that led to the conflict.