What’s new:

A New York Times investigation reveals that Israeli authorities had prior knowledge of an extensive Hamas assault plan but deemed it implausible.

Why it matters:

Ignoring the detailed attack blueprint, termed Jericho Wall, may have contributed to the ability of Hamas to execute a surprise offensive against Israeli targets.

The details:

The Jericho Wall document described a complex attack strategy involving drones, paragliders, and motorcycles, aiming to penetrate Israel’s defenses under the chaos of rocket fire. The plan included specific targets, such as overwhelming the Re’im military post, which aligns with the October 7 attack on a nearby event.

Signals ignored:

Despite Hamas’s apparent training exercises reflecting the document’s content, some Israeli officers considered the plans overly ambitious, recommending a wait and see approach. This stance has sparked internal debate, recalling past intelligence oversights like those preceding the Yom Kippur War.

Not the first warning:

Prior to Jericho Wall, a 2016 memo had already warned of Hamas’s growing capabilities and intentions, indicating a pattern of underestimated threats.

The big picture:

The oversight of actionable intelligence raises concerns about Israel’s readiness to preempt complex terrorist threats, highlighting the need for vigilance in assessing enemy capabilities.

This story was first published on jpost.com.