Israel Warned Hamas Might Launch Mass Kidnapping Before Oct. 7

Reserve Colonel Doron Hadar, former commander of the IDF General Staff's negotiation unit, revealed that mediators involved in pre-October 7 discussions with Hamas had warned that a lack of progress on a hostage deal could lead the terrorist group to attempt a large-scale kidnapping operation. Hadar, who participated in negotiations for Israelis held by Hamas before the October 7 attack, stated that the possibility of a prolonged stalemate pushing Hamas to take action that would drastically alter the balance of power was already being discussed.

"We understood that in the absence of an agreement on the hostages, Hamas would eventually seek a move that could change the game," Hadar explained in an interview with Kan Reshet Bet radio. He added that over the years, messages were received, including from various mediators, indicating that if no progress was made, Yahya Sinwar was considering the possibility of launching a vast kidnapping operation to gain leverage.

These revelations emerge amidst a controversy in Israel concerning a warning allegedly conveyed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by the President of the United Arab Emirates ten days before the October 7 attack, as reported by Haaretz. This incident has reignited the debate over various warnings given to the Prime Minister prior to the Hamas massacre and how they were assessed by Israeli political and security officials in the months leading up to the attack.