Hamas Official Claims Secret Pre-Oct. 7 Talks with Israel on Hostages, Gaza

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

According to Abu Zaida's account, the discussions included the potential release of Israeli hostages in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Concurrently, steps were discussed concerning the civilian and humanitarian situation in Gaza. The communications also touched upon other issues, such as allowing workers from Gaza into Israel, addressing electricity and water crises, and improving daily life. Abu Zaida indicated that these matters were linked to the issue of Israelis held by Hamas and the bodies of Israeli soldiers in Gaza.

Abu Zaida has not yet disclosed the specific content of the message that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar allegedly asked him to convey to the Israeli side. He also did not name the Israeli officials who received it or the exact date of its transmission, promising further details in an upcoming media appearance.

These statements emerge amidst previous Israeli media reports about a message from Sinwar reaching Israel before October 7th. Those reports suggested Israeli officials interpreted the message as relating to the prisoner and missing persons file, rather than a specific warning of an imminent attack. The identity of the intermediary in those reports was not revealed.

Abu Zaida's claim of his personal involvement in the communication channel introduces new information about his role in pre-attack contacts. However, independent verification that his described message is the same one mentioned in Israeli reports is currently unavailable. Israeli activist Gershon Baskin, who previously engaged in indirect communication channels with Hamas on the prisoner issue, has also spoken of prior contacts and exchange proposals, but his account remains separate from Abu Zaida's, with no current independent evidence linking the two.