NYT: Hamas delayed 2022 attack on Israel to garner support from Hezbollah, Iran

Hamas leaders initially planned to launch an attack on Israel in 2022 but postponed it while seeking support from Hezbollah and Iran.

The documents include protocols from 10 secret planning meetings held by a small group of Hamas' political and military leaders in the lead-up to the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, Caliber.Az reports, citing The New York Times.

Originally, Hamas intended to execute the attack, dubbed the "grand project," in the fall of 2022. However, the group delayed its plans, seeking backing from Iran and Hezbollah.

One key reason Hamas leadership cited for moving toward a "strategic battle" was Israel’s "internal situation," referring to the mass protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial reforms.

In July 2023, Hamas sent an official to Lebanon to meet with a senior Iranian commander, requesting assistance in striking sensitive targets at the onset of the attack. The Iranian commander reportedly confirmed that Tehran and Hezbollah were ready to support Hamas but needed more time to prepare for such strikes.

The report notes that the planning records do not clarify how detailed Hamas' plans were when shared with its allies. Hamas also intended to discuss the attack with then-Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, though it remains unclear if that meeting ever took place.

Despite anticipating support from its allies, Hamas concluded that it might need to act without full participation from Hezbollah or Iran. This decision was partly motivated by a desire to prevent Israel from deploying its new advanced air defense system before the attack occurred, according to *The New York Times*.

Hamas had deliberately avoided major confrontations with Israel since 2021 to maximize the element of surprise for the October 7 attack. Another factor driving the decision to strike was Hamas' aim to disrupt efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, as well as Israel's attempts to tighten control over the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Jerusalem.

The meeting records were discovered on a computer found by Israeli soldiers in late January while searching an underground Hamas command center in southern Gaza. *The New York Times* independently verified parts of the documents by cross-referencing the information with actual events. The outlet also consulted experts familiar with Hamas' activities and a former member of the group's military wing to authenticate the documents.

By Khagan Isayev