Senior Fatah Official Claims He Warned Israel of Sinwar's Attack Plans

A senior Fatah official, Soufian Abu Zaida, revealed on Wednesday that he was the one who conveyed a warning to Israel that Yahya Sinwar, Hamas's leader in Gaza, was planning a major attack. In a video posted on his Facebook account, Abu Zaida stated that in the coming days he would share details about the message Sinwar asked him to deliver to the Israeli side.

Abu Zaida identified himself as the source known as 'Coal Eyes,' who passed the message to the Shin Bet security agency in September 2023. He further elaborated in the video that he would recount his efforts over the past year and a half to mediate between Israel and Hamas for a hostage deal. The proposed exchange involved the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and the lifting of the blockade on Gaza, including allowing workers in and resolving issues with electricity and water, in return for the release of Israeli hostages. Abu Zaida noted that Israel had linked these humanitarian concessions to the return of prisoners and bodies held by Hamas.