The Hamas war plan for a mass invasion in the outline that was implemented on October 7th reached Israel already in 2018, journalist Amit Segal revealed this evening. The plan included the occupation of Sderot and the Gaza Strip envelope settlements, the destruction of the Gaza Division and infiltration above ground.
The document was drawn up in October 2016 and arrived at the Intelligence Division of the IDF in March 2018, at the end of the term of the head of the Intelligence Division at the time and Chief of Staff today Herzi Halevi.
As it did happen, the main element of the war plan was above ground and penetration through tunnels was only a supplement. It included the occupation of Sderot, Sa'ad, Mivtahim, Nir Oz and Ein Habsora; mass abduction as the main goal; the destruction of the Gaza Division; occupying the territory until receiving further instructions; and activating "dormant cells" in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria using code words. The document states that the operation will be carried out when the ground is dry, the area is clean and visibility is good.
The document was supposed to turn on a series of red lights, both regarding the extensive scope of the operation - and regarding the fact that while the barrier against tunnels was still under construction, Hamas was already planning to bypass it by infiltrating above ground.