According to Reuters, Israel's intelligence Unit has revealed that Hamas had planned a much larger attack on Israel on October 7, when it launched an unprecedented invasion of southern Israel, killing over 1,200 civilians and taking hundreds of hostages.
The intelligence was based on the analysis of the bodies, maps, notes, weapons and equipment of the slain Hamas fighters.
According to the intelligence, one of the dead militants in the town of Beeri had a notebook with handwritten verses from the Quran and orders that read: "Kill as many people as possible and take as many hostages as possible."
Other fighters were equipped with gas cylinders, handcuffs and thermobaric grenades designed to turn houses into infernos. These were some of the clues that indicated Hamas's broader plan, which analysts said was aimed not only at killing and capturing Israelis, but also at starting a conflagration that would sweep the region and lead to a wider conflict.
The intelligence also suggested that Hamas had coordinated with other militant groups, such as Hezbollah, Houthis and Amal Movement, to launch simultaneous attacks on Israel from Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.
The goal was to overwhelm Israel's defenses and provoke a strong response that would draw in other countries, such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, into the war. The intelligence warned that Hamas was still capable of carrying out more attacks and urged Israel to remain vigilant and prepared.
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