Israel Received Hamas Attack Warnings Before October 7, Report Claims

Multiple sources had warned Israeli leadership about an impending Hamas attack, yet the tragedy of October 7 was reportedly unavoidable, according to The Atlantic. In the weeks leading up to the attack, most intelligence did not indicate Hamas was preparing a large-scale invasion, with assessments focusing on potential rocket fire from Gaza and escalation in Judea and Samaria. An Egyptian source indicated that Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel's brief visit to Israel underscored Cairo's serious concern over the intelligence received. Early warning signs emerged even before September, with an international mediator reporting contacts who signaled preparations for something significant in Gaza before the summer of 2023, though these details lacked specificity. Conflicting signals from Gaza made it difficult to ascertain the nature and scale of Hamas's planned operation. At the time, Israel's focus was primarily on the West Bank, with leadership believing the Gaza situation was under control, while Egypt, Qatar, and the UN negotiated de-escalation. Hamas had requested increased work permits for Israelis and the restoration of Qatari aid mechanisms. By late September, an agreement on de-escalation was reached, with rioters withdrawing from the border and the Erez crossing reopening. Mediators later concluded Hamas used these negotiations as a cover for attack preparations. Documents found in Gaza confirmed long-term planning for a large-scale operation, contradicting Israeli and American analysts who believed Hamas was not interested in a full-scale conflict. Egypt reportedly continued to send urgent, albeit non-specific, warnings to Israel up to October 5. Cairo also shared its assessments with regional countries like Saudi Arabia. Jordanian intelligence also alerted Israel to a dangerous escalation, primarily concerning Judea and Samaria. U.S. intelligence also noted a rising threat, with the CIA issuing a report on September 28 about potential Hamas escalation, mainly concerning prolonged rocket fire. Another report on October 5 focused on analytical assessments.