"Hamas’s Years-Long Plan Unveiled: Inside the Delayed 9/11-Style Attack Plot and October 7 Assault on Israel"

On October 7, 2023, the Palestinian militant organization Hamas executed an unprecedented assault on Israel, resulting in over 1,200 fatalities and hundreds of people taken hostage. This devastating event marked the beginning of a new wave of violence in the region and quickly led to all-out warfare. While the attack seemed sudden to the global community, emerging reports indicate that it had been in the planning stages for years, with meticulous preparations made for a large-scale operation intended to significantly disrupt Israel's security and military capabilities.

According to various sources, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, Hamas had initially aimed to launch the assault in late 2022 but postponed it to better coordinate with regional allies like Iran and Hezbollah. Delaying the operation allowed Hamas to amass resources and enhance its military readiness while securing further support from external partners. Reports suggest that discussions about what was internally known as "the big project" began as early as January 2022, involving high-ranking Hamas leaders such as Yahya Sinwar, Muhammed Deif, and Marwan Issa. The group held multiple meetings over the next two years to fine-tune the plan, including selecting key targets and logistical strategies.

One of the most ambitious elements of Hamas's original plans was a 9/11-style attack on the iconic Azrieli Towers in Tel Aviv. Resembling the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, the envisioned assault aimed to cause mass casualties by targeting one of Israel's most prominent landmarks. However, the group ultimately scrapped this plan due to limitations in their operational capabilities. Additional proposals, such as employing horse-drawn carriages to smuggle fighters across Israeli defenses, were similarly abandoned as impractical.

Financial support from Iran played a critical role in Hamas's preparations. In early 2021, Sinwar sought funding from Iranian officials, initially securing $10 million. As the operation's scope expanded, Hamas requested an additional $500 million over two years to finance the assault. This financial backing was crucial for bolstering military assets and refining strategic plans. In 2023, Hamas's deputy leader, Khalil al-Hayya, traveled to Lebanon to meet with a senior commander from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Mohammed Said Izadi, to discuss operational specifics. Iran expressed conditional support but indicated that more time was needed for a regional escalation.

The decision to delay the operation also considered Israel's domestic situation. The nation was embroiled in significant internal unrest due to mass protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed judicial reforms. Hamas leaders viewed this internal discord as a vulnerability, reasoning that Israel would be less prepared to respond to a large-scale assault during a period of political instability. Additionally, warming diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia—potentially a significant breakthrough in Middle Eastern politics—added urgency for Hamas to act before these ties could solidify.

Throughout 2022 and 2023, Hamas engaged in a calculated strategy to deceive Israeli intelligence. By maintaining a façade of prioritizing governance in Gaza and avoiding direct military confrontations, the group cultivated a false sense of security. Hamas leadership explicitly discussed the need to lull Israel into complacency, successfully camouflaging its preparations. This deception extended to compartmentalizing information within the organization, limiting knowledge of the operation to only a few top leaders until hours before the attack.

As the planned assault drew closer, discussions revolved around selecting an opportune moment to strike. Yom Kippur in late September 2023 was considered, but the leadership ultimately decided on October 7, coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, when Israel's military readiness was expected to be lower. The meticulously timed attack targeted military bases, civilian communities, and resulted in numerous hostages taken, thereby overwhelming Israeli defenses and triggering a swift, forceful retaliation.

Although Hamas executed the assault independently, the conflict rapidly expanded beyond Gaza’s borders. Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group backed by Iran, began launching missile attacks on northern Israel, suggesting a broader regional involvement. The extent of Iran's and Hezbollah's roles remains debated. While Iranian officials, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, denied direct involvement, there is evidence that ongoing discussions took place between Hamas and Iranian representatives leading up to the attack. U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies have indicated that while Iran's leadership may not have orchestrated the specific timing, it did provide material support to Hamas.

Ultimately, the documents shed light on how Hamas methodically planned the October 7 assault, with a long-term strategy encompassing military, financial, and psychological dimensions. The group's ability to mislead Israeli intelligence and exploit the nation's internal political crises proved crucial to the attack's initial success. The meticulous preparation, however, also reveals the complex geopolitical web in which Hamas operates, seeking support from regional powers while navigating Israel's evolving military capabilities and diplomatic landscape.