Documents Show Hamas Delayed 'Big Project' Attack to Enlist Iran and Hezbollah

Oct 12, 2024, 05:45 PM

Secret documents and meeting minutes obtained by The New York Times reveal that Hamas delayed its major cross-border attack on Israel, originally planned for 2022, to October 7, 2023, in an effort to secure support from Iran and Hezbollah. Over the past two years, Hamas deliberately avoided major confrontations with Israel to maximize the element of surprise, falsely implying it had been deterred. In July 2023, Hamas dispatched a top official to Lebanon to meet with Mohammed Said Izadi, a senior commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), requesting assistance, including funds and training, for striking sensitive sites at the start of the assault. The meeting referred to the attack as "the big project." Despite attempts to enlist Iran and Hezbollah, Hamas proceeded with the operation without their direct involvement. The documents also undercut reports of a breach between Hamas's Gaza leadership and its Qatar-based political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, showing that they shared sensitive information and coordinated closely in planning the operation.