Iran had been informed about Hamas's plan to launch the October 7 attack on Israel at least since July 2023 and even welcomed it, secret documents seen by The New York Times reveal, contradicting previous claims by Iranian authorities that Tehran was not aware of the plan.
Iranian officials have repeatedly made the claim that they were not involved in the terror attack, but the government immediately on October 7 praised the invasion and ordered street celebration, with large banners erected within hours.
Documents seized by the Israeli military and verified by The New York Times show senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya discussed the plan with IRGC commander Mohammed Said Izadi in July 2023.
Izadi said that Hezbollah and Iran welcomed the plan in principle, but that they needed time “to prepare the environment," the report said.
The documents, however, do not say how detailed a plan was presented by Hamas to its allies.
Back in November, Iranian officials claimed they had no warning of the October 7 invasion of Israel by its proxy Hamas, according to a report by Reuters. Three sources said at the time that “Iran's supreme leader delivered a clear message to the head of Hamas when they met in Tehran in early November … You gave us no warning of your Oct. 7 attack on Israel, and we will not enter the war on your behalf.”
Iran’s Mission to the United Nations denied the claims made in the secret documents verified by The Times. “All the planning, decision-making and directing were solely executed by Hamas’s military wing based in Gaza, any claim attempting to link it to Iran or Hezbollah — either partially or wholly — is devoid of credence and comes from fabricated documents,” the Iranian statement said.
In the attack on southern Israel, 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were massacred by Hamas fighters and a further 240 were taken hostage, in the deadliest single day for Jews since the Holocaust.
The attack prompted Israel to bombard and invade Gaza, killing tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians and militants. The Gaza war also engaged Hezbollah in a one-year exchange of fire with Israel, which culminated in the Israeli killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and almost all other top commanders of the group.
The New York Times said the newly obtained documents "represent a breakthrough in understanding Hamas" and "show extensive efforts to deceive Israel about its intentions as the group laid the groundwork for a bold assault and a regional conflagration that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar hoped would cause Israel to 'collapse'."
According to the secret documents, "Hamas initially planned to carry out the attack, which it code-named “the big project,” in the fall of 2022. But the group delayed executing the plan as it tried to persuade Iran and Hezbollah to participate."
