How could Israel be so surprised by Hamas’ attack that the terrorists managed to cause a bloodbath and kidnap hostages? According to a newspaper report, there was a fatal misjudgment.
According to a report in the New York Times, Israel had evidence of a planned major attack by the Islamist Hamas more than a year before October 7th.
Accordingly, there was a comprehensive exchange between Israeli authorities about a 40-page document codenamed “Jericho Wall,” which outlined a Hamas battle plan. This is said to have been similar in detail to the attack that Hamas terrorists carried out from the Gaza Strip at the beginning of October, the US newspaper reported on Thursday.
That draft is said to have fallen into the hands of Israeli authorities “last year” – more than a year before the attack – and then circulated in military and secret service circles. Ultimately, however, it was dismissed by the experts as too demanding and difficult for Hamas to carry out.
Document detailed methodical raid
The document, which the newspaper said it had translated, did not contain a date for an attack, but described a detailed, methodical raid that overcame the Gaza Strip’s fortifications, captured Israeli towns and destroyed key military bases, including a department headquarters. should be stormed. According to the document, the plans included initial rocket fire, drones that would take out surveillance cameras and automated machine guns along the border, and fighters invading Israel en masse with parachutes, motorcycles or on foot. A draft that Hamas ultimately followed “with frightening precision,” as the newspaper wrote.
Three months before the actual attack, according to emails reviewed by The New York Times, an intelligence analyst in the decoding unit warned that Hamas had completed training that was very close to the “Jericho Wall” document. “I strongly disagree that the scenario is imaginary,” she wrote to an army colonel in the Gaza unit. “It’s a plan designed to start a war. It’s not just an attack on a village.” But the military colleague maintained that Hamas was unable to actually carry out such a comprehensive plan. “In short: let’s wait patiently,” was his answer.
“Attack was a failure on our part”
“There is no doubt that the attack on October 7th 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 will closely examine what happened and learn from it. When asked to what extent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knew about the attack scenario or read the documents, Heinrich said: “We will investigate. The Prime Minister has also spoken about it. When the time comes, he will say more.”
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
