Ex-PA Official to Reveal Secret Hamas-Israel Talks, Sinwar Message Before Oct. 7

Former Palestinian Authority official Sufian Abu Zayda announced he will soon reveal details of secret communications between Israel and Hamas that took place for about a year and a half before the October 7th attack. Abu Zayda stated in a Facebook video that these negotiations aimed to reach humanitarian arrangements and a prisoner exchange deal.

The proposed deal included the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, the easing of restrictions on Gaza, allowing Palestinian workers into Israel, and addressing essential services like electricity and water.

Abu Zayda also mentioned that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, whom he referred to as "Abu Ibrahim," had asked him to deliver a direct message to Israel shortly before the October 7th attack. While Abu Zayda did not disclose the message's content in the video, he indicated it might have contained a specific warning or signaled a broader escalation.

These revelations come amid previous reports in Israel about a secret message attributed to Sinwar that reportedly warned of potential escalation within Israeli prisons and regarding the prisoner issue. This also coincides with a Haaretz investigation detailing intelligence received by the Shin Bet in mid-September 2023 from a source codenamed "Coal Eyes." The investigation suggested the Shin Bet chief recommended a preemptive strike in Gaza or significantly bolstering southern defenses, but a subsequent meeting did not result in operational decisions.

Abu Zayda, 66, a former Minister of Prisoner Affairs for the PA and an analyst known for his Hebrew proficiency on Israeli media, is expected to shed light on the nature of these pre-war communications and how messages were conveyed and interpreted by Israeli decision-makers and security agencies.