Israeli officials possessed Hamas’s battle plan for the October 7 terrorist attack over a year before its occurrence, as indicated by documents, emails, and interviews. However, Israeli military and intelligence dismissed the plan, codenamed “Jericho Wall,” deeming it overly ambitious for Hamas to execute.
The 40-page document, reviewed by The New York Times, detailed a devastating invasion leading to approximately 1,200 casualties. Although the translated document didn’t specify the attack date, it outlined a methodical assault on Gaza Strip fortifications, takeover of Israeli cities, and storming of key military bases.
Hamas executed the plan precisely, employing rockets, drones, and gunmen as outlined. The document also revealed sensitive information about Israeli military forces, raising concerns about intelligence leaks.
Despite the document circulating among Israeli leaders, experts deemed the attack beyond Hamas’s capabilities. Warnings were disregarded, leading to a lack of preparation, resulting in the deadliest day in Israel’s history.
Acknowledging the failure, Israeli security officials plan to form a commission to investigate the intelligence lapse. The Jericho Wall document exposes a series of missteps, underpinned by the erroneous belief that Hamas lacked the capability and intent to attack.
Israeli military and intelligence declined to comment on the situation. The document’s origin remains undisclosed, but it was one of several collected over the years. Earlier memos indicated Hamas’s intent to move confrontations into Israeli territory.
The audacious Jericho Wall plan aimed to overrun Israeli military bases, including the Gaza division’s headquarters. Israeli officials underestimated the plan, misinterpreting Hamas’s actions, such as negotiating permits for Palestinian work in Israel.
Previous intelligence pointed to Hamas acquiring sophisticated weapons and increasing its fighting force, but the warnings were not heeded. The failure to connect the dots echoes past analytical shortcomings, reminiscent of the 9/11 intelligence failure in the United States.
The Israeli intelligence lapse on October 7 is now compared to the 9/11 failure, emphasizing the gap in analysis and the need for a comprehensive understanding of Hamas’s intentions.
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