Ex-Hamas Official Reveals Sinwar's 'Earthquake' Warning Before Oct. 7

A former senior official in the Fatah movement, Soufian Abu Zaydeh, revealed in a recent interview that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar issued a stark warning to Israel in September 2023, hinting at an impending 'earthquake' that would lead to the 'emptying of prisons.' The message was conveyed during negotiations between Israel and Hamas regarding prisoner exchanges, which Abu Zaydeh mediated.

Abu Zaydeh recounted a meeting with Sinwar on September 14, 2023, where Sinwar, appearing calm, dictated a message for the Israelis. He stated that by the end of September, cards would be laid on the table that would cause an 'earthquake' in the negotiations, and Israel should prepare for the 'emptying of prisons.' Sinwar emphasized that the message should be delivered verbatim.

Following the meeting, Abu Zaydeh informed other Fatah officials, including Mohammed Dahlan, and then relayed the message to Israeli contacts through an official channel. He sent the message in both Arabic and Hebrew to avoid any translation errors. Israeli officials contacted him shortly after, expressing concern and requesting an urgent meeting in Ashkelon the following morning.

During the meeting in Ashkelon, which included the head of the Southern Command and the lead negotiator, Israeli officials confirmed they had not slept due to the message and questioned its context. Abu Zaydeh reiterated that Sinwar was calm when delivering the warning. Sinwar's primary concern, according to Abu Zaydeh, was whether the message had been received by Israel.

Despite the exchange of messages and meetings, the negotiations did not result in a deal, and the meaning of Sinwar's 'earthquake' warning remained unclear until the Hamas attack on October 7. Abu Zaydeh returned to Gaza on October 5, with plans to meet Sinwar again on October 8, but these plans were superseded by the outbreak of hostilities.