Leaked documents allege Hamas 'strategic deception plan' before October 7 attack

Israeli media have published internal documents purportedly belonging to Hamas that describe a "strategic deception plan" said to have been prepared before the group's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. According to the reports, the plan was designed to conceal Hamas's intentions and create conditions for a surprise assault. The documents, cited in Israeli press coverage, allege that Hamas publicly showed interest in cease-fire arrangements and economic easing, skipped certain rounds of fighting, and gradually increased military activity along the border so that unusual movements would appear routine. They also describe political, media and field steps in the days before the attack that were intended to project stability toward Israel. Israeli assessments cited in the reporting describe those steps as a core element of the deception effort leading up to the October 7 attack. The authenticity of the documents has not been independently verified, and Hamas has not publicly confirmed the material, according to the Israeli reports. No further details on the provenance of the documents or on any official Israeli inquiry into the leak were immediately available.