Hamas Official Claims Secret Pre-Oct. 7 Message to Israel

Soufian Abou Zaida, a former Palestinian official, has revealed details of a secret communication channel with Israel prior to the October 7th Hamas attacks. In a video posted on social media, Abou Zaida stated that the communications involved proposals for a deal to exchange Israeli hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The discussions also covered measures to ease restrictions on the Gaza Strip and improve humanitarian and living conditions there.

According to Abou Zaida's account, the talks explored the possibility of releasing Israeli detainees in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Simultaneously, steps related to the civilian and humanitarian situation in Gaza were discussed. The communications also touched upon other issues, such as allowing workers from Gaza into Israel, addressing electricity and water crises, and improving daily life. Abou Zaida indicated that these matters were linked to the issue of Israelis held by Hamas and the bodies of Israeli soldiers in Gaza.

Abou Zaida has not yet disclosed the specific content of the message that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar allegedly asked him to deliver to the Israeli side. He also did not name the Israeli officials who received it or the exact date it was conveyed, stating he would reveal more details in an upcoming media appearance. His statements come amid previous Israeli media reports about a message from Sinwar reaching Israel before October 7th, which Israeli officials reportedly interpreted as related to the prisoners and missing persons file, rather than a specific warning of an imminent attack.

While those reports did not identify the intermediary, Abou Zaida's announcement of his personal involvement offers new information about his role in pre-attack communications. However, independent verification that his described message is the same as those previously reported is currently unavailable. Israeli activist Gershon Baskin, who has engaged in indirect communications with Hamas on prisoner exchanges, also mentioned past contacts and proposals with the group, but his account remains separate from Abou Zaida's, with no independent evidence confirming they were part of the same channel.

Abou Zaida had previously spoken about undeclared Israeli-Hamas communications before the war. His latest announcement gains significance from his confirmation of personal involvement and Sinwar's alleged tasking him with a message. However, crucial details, including the message's content, recipient, timing, and the progress of the prisoner deal talks, remain undisclosed. Abou Zaida is expected to provide further details on the nature of this channel and its participants in his upcoming media appearance, potentially shedding more light on the pre-October 7th communications and the issues they addressed.