Yahya Sinwar Photo: Getty Images
A choice that could have changed history?
Israeli media reported that six days before the Hamas attack on southern Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ignored a proposal to eliminate the group’s leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. This is stated in the material of 103FM radio station, which published the details of a closed meeting of the leadership of the Israeli security service on the eve of the 7 October tragedy. This was reported by The Jerusalem Post.
According to a journalist of the radio station, the then head of Shabak (Shin Bet) proposed two options: to eliminate the top leadership of Hamas or to eliminate key planners of attacks. However, Netanyahu did not give any response to this proposal.
The surprise factor as the main element of the attack
Former Israeli security official Gilat Maniv said that the surprise factor was decisive for Hamas. “If there had been Israeli drones in the air that day or the army had been on high alert, the attack would not have taken place,” he said.
According to him, the commander of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, had decided the day before that the attack would be carried out only in the absence of Israeli activity. The attack was initially scheduled for 06:00 am, but was postponed for 30 minutes as Deif suspected a possible Israeli trap.
Could the tragedy have been avoided?
6 days before the attack, Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack in the West Bank, which, according to Maniv, was supposed to signal an escalation. “When they publicly claim responsibility, it means they are ready for a major escalation,” the expert stressed.
Had the proposal to eliminate Sinwar been approved, could Israel have prevented the attack? The answer to this question remains a subject of heated debate in the country’s political and security circles.