Mossad: 'Hamas not interested in military confrontation' two weeks before Oct. 7 - N12 - Jerusalem Post Staff

 

by Jerusalem Post Staff

"The broad interest of the Hamas leadership in Gaza is to avoid escalation," said the document.

 

Abu Ubaida, the spokesman of the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, walks during an anti-Israel military show by Hamas terroristsin the southern Gaza Strip November 11, 2019.

(photo credit: IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA/REUTERS)

The Mossad, the national intelligence agency of Israel, published a detailed paper in which it was determined that Hamas is not interested in a military confrontation just two weeks before the October 7 attack, N12 reported on Saturday night. 

The document, titled "Increasing Popular Pressure - A Calculated Policy on the Part of Hamas's Leadership in Gaza to Increase Civilian Exchanges," stated that "It is clear that the Hamas leadership in Gaza is not interested in a military confrontation with Israel at this time, but it also does not shy away from it if it is forced upon it," said N12. 

The document, which was published whilst incendiary balloons were being launched from the Gaza Strip, insisted on presenting a picture in which the terror organization strived for civil discourse rather than a military conflict. 

Hamas position could change, but unlikely, said Mossad 

N12 said it also clarified that Hamas's position could change, but emphasized that at the time, "the broad interest of the Hamas leadership in Gaza is to avoid escalation." 

Four months before October 7, Mossah head Dedi Barnea said he supported a benefits program for Gaza, intending to bring about long-term peace with Hamas, according to Channel 12. 

A Palestinian member of Hamas security forces stands outside the main commercial crossing with Gaza, Kerem Shalom, in the southern Gaza strip August 11, 2020. (credit: IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA/REUTERS)

Mossad denies fault 

The Mossad responded by saying, "The division of responsibility between the intelligence agencies as defined by the political echelon since 2005 determined, among other things, that the Mossad holds no responsibility for strategic warning of power movements in the Palestinian arena, and therefore the weight of the document for decision-making was low to negligible." 

"The Mossad was not operationally engaged in the Gaza Strip, neither in collecting intelligence, nor in deploying agents, nor in carrying out special operations." 

 

Jerusalem Post Staff

Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-868920

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