Israel was caught off guard by Hamas’ devastating attack due to a careful campaign of deception. Hamas had been planning the attack for two years, keeping its military plans hidden and convincing Israel that it did not want a fight. While Israel believed it was containing a war-weary Hamas through economic incentives, the group’s fighters were actually being trained and drilled. Hamas gave the impression that it was not ready for a fight, leading Israel to underestimate the threat. The attack, which occurred on the Jewish Sabbath and a religious holiday, resulted in the death of 700 Israelis and the abduction of dozens. Israel has retaliated by killing over 400 Palestinians in Gaza.

Hamas used unprecedented intelligence tactics to mislead Israel, creating the impression that it did not want a confrontation while secretly preparing for a massive operation. Israel admits that it was caught off guard and that Hamas surprised them with a coordinated attack from multiple directions. Hamas even constructed a mock Israeli settlement in Gaza to practice military landings and storming operations. Israel saw these activities but believed that Hamas was not interested in a confrontation. Meanwhile, Hamas sought to convince Israel that it prioritized economic concerns over starting a new war.

Hamas refrained from military operations against Israel in the past two years, further building the impression that it was not interested in a new war. This restraint drew criticism from some supporters and mocking from Fatah in the West Bank. Israel believed that Hamas was preoccupied with managing Gaza and focused on normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia. Hamas was able to avoid leaks and keep many of its leaders unaware of the attack plans. The operation was divided into four parts, involving rockets, hang gliders, motorbikes, and commando units. Hostages were also taken and moved to Gaza.

Israel’s security services were deceived by Hamas, believing that the group was primarily interested in economic incentives. The attack exposed a huge failure of the intelligence system and military apparatus in the south. Israel’s allies had been suggesting that Hamas had become more responsible, leading to a mistaken belief that Hamas did not pose a significant threat. However, Israel vows to destroy Hamas and not make the same mistake again.