A recently unveiled report paints a harrowing picture of meticulous preparation by Hamas before its brutal October 7, 2023, assault on Israel. Over seven years, the Palestinian terror organization orchestrated an intricate web of cyber espionage, hacking into Israeli security systems to gather intelligence for what would become one of the deadliest coordinated attacks in recent memory.
A Calculated Invasion
The assault, launched from Gaza, left an indelible scar on Israel. At least 1,200 individuals—mostly civilians—were killed, and 251 were abducted, leaving families and communities shattered. The scale of the attack highlighted the depth of Hamas's premeditation, aided by years of surveillance targeting Israeli border communities.
A new report reveals that Hamas terrorists spent seven years planning the Oct. 7th massacre.
— Cheryl E 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🎗️ (@CherylWroteIt) December 31, 2024
Hamas hacked into security cameras, including those of kindergartens to target civilian areas. The report also reveals that Gazan workers collected intel for Hamas. pic.twitter.com/eEd6X4yTvV
Seized documents, uncovered during Israel's counteroffensive, revealed the extent of this espionage. Israeli broadcast news Channel 12 reported that Hamas operatives had infiltrated security networks as far back as 2016, targeting kibbutzim and other rural settlements near Gaza. The group’s surveillance included obtaining IP addresses and serial numbers of security cameras, granting them a chilling ability to monitor daily life in these communities.
Targeting Vulnerable Spaces
Alarmingly, Hamas gathered detailed intelligence on sensitive locations such as kindergartens and health clinics. The group also acquired the phone numbers of border security guards, facilitating further breaches in security. By infiltrating email accounts of Israeli officials, Hamas identified weak points along the border. One intercepted email even detailed requests for additional fencing, providing critical insights into gaps in Israeli defenses.
Hamas spent 7 years collecting intel on security cameras, guards and even a kindergarten in Israeli communities massacred on Oct. 7 📰🔗➡️https://t.co/xKAEs5m5jX
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) December 30, 2024
A Broader Campaign of Espionage
The surveillance extended beyond physical and cyber infiltration of border communities. Top Israeli officials, including Sdot Negev Regional Council Chief Tamir Idan, his chief of staff Rafi Babian, and Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council Chair Ofir Libstein, were reportedly tracked by Hamas. Gadi Yarkoni, a former head of the Eshkol Regional Council, recounted how Hamas had marked him as a target. However, their intelligence was outdated; the militants targeted his former residence, unaware he had relocated three years earlier.
Yarkoni expressed frustration at the Israeli Defense Forces, stating, "They didn’t give me any clue of any of this. I'd be surprised if the military didn’t know about it." His criticism underscores a potential lapse in communication and preparedness within Israel’s defense apparatus.
Tens of thousands of Gazans had work permits in Israel, and seemed to get along well with the border guards.
— 𝗡𝗶𝗼𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗴 ♛ ✡︎ (@NiohBerg) June 16, 2024
Sadly, we now know many of these "workers" were gathering intel for Hamas and collaborated on 07/10.
Scenes like this will never return. pic.twitter.com/H1LHnZDZMs
Exploiting Civilian Lapses
Israeli intelligence experts speculate that Hamas gained access to security systems through civilian negligence. Many residents shared camera access codes on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, making them prime targets for hackers. This alarming oversight underscores the vulnerability of modern communication networks in the face of cyber warfare.
Shalom Ben Hanan, a former senior official with Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, described the intelligence gathered by Hamas as “very, very accurate and very detailed,” likening it to the operational planning of a sophisticated military force.
Palestinians lose jobs as Israeli firms seek foreign replacements. About 160,000 Palestinians from the West Bank and 20,000 from Gaza lost jobs.
— Imtiaz Mahmood (@ImtiazMadmood) December 4, 2023
A Gazan who worked in Israel earned 6 times as he would in Gaza. Those same Gazans spied for Hamas and gave them all the info needed… pic.twitter.com/8sUrVaDtHz
The Human Cost and Aftermath
In response to the massacre, Israel launched a relentless military campaign against Gaza, resulting in significant casualties and displacement. According to Gaza's health ministry, over 45,000 Palestinians have died since October 2023, and nearly the entire population has been uprooted.
The revelations about Hamas's long-term espionage raise critical questions about Israel’s preparedness and the broader implications of cyber vulnerabilities in modern conflicts. As Israel continues to grapple with the aftermath of the October attack, the lessons from these chilling revelations underscore the urgent need for enhanced security protocols and intelligence-sharing mechanisms to prevent such tragedies in the future.
