Years before the start of the latest war between Hamas and Israel on October 7, 2023, Israeli forces found documents in the Gaza Strip revealing that Hamas had plotted various attacks against Israel. These attacks included a scheme to blow up a skyscraper in Tel Aviv, as well as pressuring Iran for financial and military support in their battle against Israel. The documents, totaling 59 pages, uncovered plans for attacks using trains, boats, and horse-drawn chariots. Hamas also requested hundreds of millions of dollars in funding and training for an additional 12,000 fighters from Iran in 2021.
Israel has released some of the seized documents following Iran’s launch of nearly 200 missiles on October 1 in response to the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group. In letters written in 2021, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar appealed to senior Iranian officials, including the supreme leader Ali Khamenei, for more support in their efforts to destroy Israel completely within two years. Iran initially declined to directly involve itself in the war between Hamas and Israel, but the conflict has since escalated as Iran’s proxies continue to attack Israel on multiple fronts.
Some of the plans seized by the Israel Defense Forces include a computer slide presentation showing a Hamas outpost in northern Gaza with various options and scenarios for attacking Israel. Targets ranged from military command centers to shopping malls. Additionally, plans were found for destroying the Moshe Aviv Tower, a 70-story building in Tel Aviv, as well as the Azrieli Center complex which includes three skyscrapers, a shopping mall, train station, and a cinema. Other plans included targeting Israel’s rail system and using horse-drawn carriages as conveyances for fighters and weapons.
An Israeli security official who reviewed the documents stated that Hamas was determined to wipe out Israel and the Jewish people and managed to drag Iran into direct conflict with Israel under unprepared conditions. Despite Iran’s accusations that Israel was spreading false information, the documents provide insight into Hamas’ intentions and plans for attacks on Israel. The conflict between Hamas and Israel has expanded as Iranian proxies continue to launch attacks on multiple fronts. The US has also announced plans to deploy missile defense systems and military personnel to Israel in response to the escalating situation.
The release of the documents sheds light on Hamas’ plotting of attacks against Israel and their efforts to secure support from Iran. The documents reveal the extent of Hamas’ determination to destroy Israel and the Jewish people, as well as their detailed plans for attacks using various methods. The conflict between Hamas and Israel has also drawn in Iran’s proxies, further escalating the situation. Despite Iran’s denials and accusations of false information from Israel, the seized documents provide valuable insight into the ongoing conflict and the intentions of Hamas and its supporters.
