Documents Reveal Why Hezbollah Did Not Join Hamas Attack on Northern Israel on October 7

Newly published documents reveal the complex coordination efforts between Hamas and Hezbollah prior to the October 7 attack on Israel, shedding light on why Hezbollah did not join the assault despite having forces near the border. Journalist Doron Kedosh disclosed these documents on Galei Tzahal, detailing the evolving relationship and strategic discussions between the two groups in the years leading up to the attack.

The documents show that Hamas and Hezbollah had a history of cooperation, including during the 2021 "Guardian of the Walls" operation, when Hezbollah provided intelligence support to Hamas. In May 2022, senior Hamas officials met with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and an Iranian Revolutionary Guard general in Beirut to discuss expanding conflict with Israel. Hamas highlighted factors such as rising Palestinian resistance, Israel's fragile political situation, global distractions like the Russia-Ukraine war, and efforts to halt regional normalization with Israel.

However, Nasrallah expressed reservations about launching a broad conflict without clear strategic goals, asking Hamas to define their objectives before proceeding. Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar responded with several scenarios, including a large-scale surprise attack aiming to topple Israel, tentatively planned for a Jewish holiday, possibly Passover 2023. Sinwar also envisioned guerrilla incursions from Syria and Jordan. Nasrallah supported these plans in principle and promised to seek approval from Iran's Supreme Leader.

By June 2023, Sinwar claimed increased readiness among Hezbollah and Iran to ally with Hamas in a future conflict. Yet, when Hamas launched the October 7 attack, Hezbollah did not immediately join. Sinwar sent a letter to Nasrallah requesting urgent support for rocket barrages and a ground offensive. Hezbollah's response was delayed and limited, arriving only a day later. Analysts conclude that Hezbollah's absence prevented a much larger-scale massacre in northern Israel, sparing the Galilee region from extensive bloodshed.

These revelations, analyzed by the Amichai Institute for Terror and Intelligence Research, provide unprecedented insight into the strategic calculations and hesitations behind the October 7 events, highlighting the fragile and conditional nature of the Hamas-Hezbollah alliance.