Secret Hamas Document Reveals Date of October 7 Attack Decision

4th February 2025

3 minutes read

Secret Hamas Document Reveals Date of October 7 Attack Decision

A secret Hamas document has revealed a surprise regarding the timing of the decision to launch the October 7, 2023 attack and who issued the order.

Until now, it was widely believed that the order for the attack was given just one day before it took place to maintain secrecy, and that Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, was the one who issued the order.

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However, the document, which was seized by the Israeli army from Hamas hideouts during the war, reveals that the decision to attack was made two weeks prior, and that it was Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas‘s military wing, who issued the order.

An additional surprise in Israel was how Israeli security had no knowledge of the decision for the attack throughout the entire two-week period, even though the order had been distributed to 25 of the movement’s leaders.

According to Israeli Broadcasting Authority: “A detailed operational document seized during the war in Gaza reveals that on September 23, 2023, Mohammed Deif distributed the full operational order for the October 7, 2023 attack to approximately 25 senior Hamas leaders, two weeks before the attack.”

The report continues: “The document, which outlines the attack plan in all its stages, specifies the planned date of the attack, the distribution of forces, and the precise targets for each unit.”

It adds: “According to the document, the attack was planned to occur in three waves: first, elite forces, followed by elite forces and combined regular forces, and finally what was called the ‘volunteer civilian wave.'”

The plan also included precise details about the stages of the attack: from launching intensive rockets, using gliders and drones to disrupt Israeli surveillance systems, to the ground invasion.

Israeli Broadcasting Authority notes the issue of no information reaching Israel about the attack and its timing, even though the order was given two weeks before the execution.

It states: “Although the document was distributed to dozens of people, no details were leaked to Israeli security.”

It adds: “Furthermore, in a meeting held on September 27, ten days before the attack, the head of military intelligence, Aharon Haleva, and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant estimated that Hamas was interested in a long-term settlement with Israel.”

On April 22, 2024, Haleva announced his resignation, stating in his resignation letter: “On Saturday, October 7th, Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack against the State of Israel… the intelligence division under my command failed to meet the mission we were entrusted with.”

He announced that he took personal responsibility for the failure to prevent the attack.

In all their statements, Israeli officials say that Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, issued the order for the attack.

However, Israeli Broadcasting Authority stated: “The document, revealed during the fighting inside Hamas‘s tunnels, showed that contrary to previous assessments, it was Mohammed Deif, not Yahya Sinwar, who was the main person responsible for the attack.”

Hamas has announced the deaths of both Sinwar and Deif during the war in Gaza.