According to a report by The Washington Post, Hamas militants had planned a series of terrorist attacks in Israel with the intention of sparking a larger conflict in the Middle East. The report, based on information from numerous intelligence and security officials from Western and Middle Eastern countries, revealed that the militants had prepared for a “second phase” of attacks and had stockpiled enough provisions and ammunition to sustain themselves for several days.
Notably, some militants were found carrying documents outlining plans to attack major Israeli cities and even invade the West Bank. On October 7, Hamas terrorists killed over 1,200 people and abducted 240 more, leading to Israel launching retaliatory attacks on Gaza. The violence escalated, resulting in a significant death toll, as reported by Gaza health authorities.
The Post’s sources revealed that Hamas militants were aware that their large-scale attack would provoke Israeli incursions into Gaza. However, they believed that the attacks were justified as they aimed to disrupt the normalization of relations between Israel and Arab nations, and to incite a new wave of anti-Israeli resistance.
A senior Israeli military official involved in investigating the October 7 massacre stated, “They wanted to buy their place in history — a place in the history of jihad — at the expense of the lives of many people in Gaza.”
The aftermath of the attacks has seen Israel engaging in clashes with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, along its northern border. Additionally, there has been a resurgence of violence in the West Bank. In response to the escalating tensions, the United States has deployed two carrier strike groups to the region as a deterrent against potential aggression from Iran or its allies.
Source: Business Insider
