The Times reviewed the minutes of 10 meetings among Hamas’s top leaders. The records show the militant group avoided several escalations since 2021 to falsely imply it had been deterred — while seeking Iranian support for a major attack.According to The New York Times, the minutes of 10 secret meetings among Hamas’s top leaders reveal that the militant group has been avoiding several escalations since 2021 in order to falsely imply that it had been deterred, while simultaneously seeking Iranian support for a major attack on Israel.

For over two years, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and his commanders have been planning what they hoped would be the most devastating and destabilizing attack on Israel in the group’s history. The documents, which were seized by the Israeli military and verified by The Times, provide a detailed record of the planning for the October 7, 2023 attack, as well as Sinwar’s determination to persuade Hamas’s allies, Iran and Hezbollah, to join in or at least commit to a broader fight with Israel.

The minutes, consisting of 30 pages, shed light on the inner workings of Hamas’s leadership and the preparations that went into the attack. They also reveal the main strategies and assessments of the group’s leaders, including their initial plan to carry out the attack, code-named “the big project,” in the fall of 2022. However, the group delayed the execution of the plan as they tried to convince Iran and Hezbollah to participate.

In July 2023, Hamas sent a top official to Lebanon to meet with a senior Iranian commander and request assistance with striking sensitive sites at the start of the assault. The Iranian commander expressed support in principle, but stated that more time was needed to prepare. The minutes do not specify the level of detail provided by Hamas to its allies.

The documents also mention a planned meeting with Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah at the time, to discuss the attack in more detail, but it is unclear if the meeting actually took place.

Hamas was confident in its allies’ general support, but also considered the possibility of moving forward without their full involvement in order to prevent Israel from deploying an advanced new air-defense system before the attack. The decision to attack was also influenced by Hamas’s desire to disrupt efforts to improve relations between Israel and other Arab countries.

The Times’s review of these minutes provides a breakthrough in understanding Hamas and its tactics. It also highlights the group’s extensive efforts to deceive Israel about its intentions as it prepared for a bold assault and a potential regional conflict. 

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