Hamas Leader Sinwar Warned of 'Earthquake' Before Oct. 7 Attack, Ex-Official Claims

A former Fatah official in Gaza, Soufian Abu Zaida, revealed details of a message he received from Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in September 2023, warning of an impending "earthquake" that would lead to the "emptying of prisons." Abu Zaida, who now resides in Egypt, shared this information in an interview with Egyptian channel Al-Ghad. He stated that during a meeting on September 14, 2023, Sinwar, appearing calm, dictated a message for Israel.

Sinwar reportedly said, "Before the end of September, we will put cards on the table that will cause an earthquake in the negotiation process, and they must prepare themselves for the emptying of prisons." Abu Zaida confirmed he asked Sinwar if he wanted the message conveyed directly, to which Sinwar replied affirmatively, emphasizing it should be delivered verbatim.

Following the meeting, Abu Zaida informed Fatah leaders Mohammed Dahlan and Samir al-Masharawi. He then relayed the message to Israeli officials through a communication channel, providing it in both Arabic and Hebrew to avoid translation errors. Israeli officials contacted Abu Zaida, expressing surprise and asking for confirmation of the message's authenticity and context.

Israeli security officials, including the head of the Southern Command, met with Abu Zaida in Ashkelon the following morning. They reportedly expressed concern, stating that "no one in Israel, meaning the security establishment, slept last night." They inquired about Sinwar's demeanor, and Abu Zaida reiterated that he was calm and not agitated.

Despite the warning and subsequent meetings, the negotiations did not yield a deal, and the meaning of Sinwar's "earthquake" remained unclear until the Hamas attack on October 7. Abu Zaida had planned to meet Sinwar again on October 8, shortly after returning to Gaza from Ramallah on October 5, but the attack preempted this meeting.