Secretive Hamas Attack: Revelations, Retaliation, and Rising Tensions
10.10.2023 posted by Admin
A senior Hamas leader revealed on Monday that only a small group of high-ranking commanders in Gaza were privy to the surprise attack on Israel. He also mentioned that Iran and Hezbollah from Lebanon would get involved if Gaza faced an annihilating war.
Ali Barakeh, a member of the Hamas leadership living in exile, made these remarks from his office in Beirut while Israel was striking Gaza in retaliation. He emphasized a complete blockade of Gaza by Israel.
The attack, which occurred on Saturday, caught Israel's military and intelligence off guard. Hundreds of Hamas fighters breached the border fence, causing chaos in several towns. Over 900 soldiers and civilians were killed, and more than 100 were captured.
Barakeh disclosed that the attack was planned by about six high-ranking Hamas commanders in Gaza, and even their closest allies were kept in the dark about the timing. He refuted claims that Iranian security officials had a role in planning or approving the attack.
He acknowledged that Iran and Hezbollah had aided Hamas in the past, but since the 2014 Gaza war, Hamas had been manufacturing its own rockets and training its fighters.
A senior Israeli source suggested that Iran pushed Hamas to carry out the infiltration and assault and was pressuring Hezbollah to prepare for conflict with Israel.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett framed the situation as Israel being at war with Iran, which he called "the octopus" guiding Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah.
An expert on International Security & Geopolitical Crises, Dr. Anat Hochberg-Marom, asserted that there was no doubt about Iran's direct involvement in the attack.
Regarding the US perspective, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby noted that while Iran had supported Hamas for years, there was no concrete evidence of direct Iranian participation in planning the complex attacks by Hamas over the weekend.
Barakeh dismissed speculations that the attack, planned for over a year, aimed to derail US efforts to normalize ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Instead, he cited various actions by Israel's hardline government over the past year as motivating factors, including visits to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and increased pressure on Palestinian prisoners. He also claimed that Hamas believed Israel intended to assassinate its top leaders.
Barakeh admitted that even Hamas was taken aback by the extent of the operation, which they called "Operation Al-Aqsa Deluge," as they expected Israel to prevent or limit the attack.
He said that Hamas had planned a smaller operation, but it involved an estimated 1,000 terrorists who attacked by land, sea, and even motorized paragliders.
Israel has declared an all-out war and mobilized 300,000 reserves, raising the possibility of a ground invasion or reoccupation of Gaza. The Israeli military claimed to have killed hundreds of terrorists and targeted numerous Hamas sites.
Barakeh mentioned that Hamas had deployed only a fraction of its forces, with nearly 2,000 fighters participating out of an army of 40,000 in Gaza alone.
Hamas might rely on its allies if it faces a major setback. Hezbollah fired rockets and shells at Israeli positions, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed to have sent gunmen across Lebanon's border into Israel.
Barakeh, who was Hamas's representative in Lebanon, stated that the group would use the Israelis captured in the attack to secure the release of all Arabs detained in Israeli prisons for terror-related offenses, including some Palestinians imprisoned in the United States for funding Hamas.
He emphasized Hamas's readiness for a protracted conflict with Israel, boasting of an arsenal of rockets that would last a long time and threatening to bring life to a halt in Israel if the aggression against Gaza did not cease.
Ali Barakeh, a member of the Hamas leadership living in exile, made these remarks from his office in Beirut while Israel was striking Gaza in retaliation. He emphasized a complete blockade of Gaza by Israel.
The attack, which occurred on Saturday, caught Israel's military and intelligence off guard. Hundreds of Hamas fighters breached the border fence, causing chaos in several towns. Over 900 soldiers and civilians were killed, and more than 100 were captured.
Barakeh disclosed that the attack was planned by about six high-ranking Hamas commanders in Gaza, and even their closest allies were kept in the dark about the timing. He refuted claims that Iranian security officials had a role in planning or approving the attack.
He acknowledged that Iran and Hezbollah had aided Hamas in the past, but since the 2014 Gaza war, Hamas had been manufacturing its own rockets and training its fighters.
A senior Israeli source suggested that Iran pushed Hamas to carry out the infiltration and assault and was pressuring Hezbollah to prepare for conflict with Israel.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett framed the situation as Israel being at war with Iran, which he called "the octopus" guiding Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah.
An expert on International Security & Geopolitical Crises, Dr. Anat Hochberg-Marom, asserted that there was no doubt about Iran's direct involvement in the attack.
Regarding the US perspective, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby noted that while Iran had supported Hamas for years, there was no concrete evidence of direct Iranian participation in planning the complex attacks by Hamas over the weekend.
Barakeh dismissed speculations that the attack, planned for over a year, aimed to derail US efforts to normalize ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Instead, he cited various actions by Israel's hardline government over the past year as motivating factors, including visits to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and increased pressure on Palestinian prisoners. He also claimed that Hamas believed Israel intended to assassinate its top leaders.
Barakeh admitted that even Hamas was taken aback by the extent of the operation, which they called "Operation Al-Aqsa Deluge," as they expected Israel to prevent or limit the attack.
He said that Hamas had planned a smaller operation, but it involved an estimated 1,000 terrorists who attacked by land, sea, and even motorized paragliders.
Israel has declared an all-out war and mobilized 300,000 reserves, raising the possibility of a ground invasion or reoccupation of Gaza. The Israeli military claimed to have killed hundreds of terrorists and targeted numerous Hamas sites.
Barakeh mentioned that Hamas had deployed only a fraction of its forces, with nearly 2,000 fighters participating out of an army of 40,000 in Gaza alone.
Hamas might rely on its allies if it faces a major setback. Hezbollah fired rockets and shells at Israeli positions, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed to have sent gunmen across Lebanon's border into Israel.
Barakeh, who was Hamas's representative in Lebanon, stated that the group would use the Israelis captured in the attack to secure the release of all Arabs detained in Israeli prisons for terror-related offenses, including some Palestinians imprisoned in the United States for funding Hamas.
He emphasized Hamas's readiness for a protracted conflict with Israel, boasting of an arsenal of rockets that would last a long time and threatening to bring life to a halt in Israel if the aggression against Gaza did not cease.