Documents Of Israel's 2016 Defense Minister Prediction Of Hamas Attack, Known Prime Minister Netanyahu

Illustration. (Piaxabay/TayebMEZAHDIA)

JAKARTA - A document designed by the Israeli defense minister once estimated an attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on their territory, with the prime minister being given the document.

The document was designed by the defense minister in 2016, Avigdor Liberman. Consisting of 11 pages, the document warned of Hamas' plans to break through the Gaza border, storm the southern region of Israel and take hostages, as quoted by The Times of Israel October 30.

The document, partly published by the Daily Yedioth Ahronoth this morning local time, shows a large number of elemental similarities to the attack with the Hamas attack on October 7.

It also shows Israeli officials have been aware for several years of potential Hamas attacks, but do not appear to take the warning seriously.

"Hamas intends to bring conflict into Israeli territory by sending large numbers of trained troops (such as Nukhba commandos, for example) to Israel to try to arrest Israelis (or even a number of residents) on the Gaza border and take hostage," Liberman wrote in the classified document.

"In addition to physical losses to society, this will also cause significant losses to the morale and feelings of Israeli citizens," the document continued.

In an interview on Saturday evening, Liberman mentioned the document, saying he was giving it to the then Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu (current prime minister), in December 2016, warned Hamas would attack "persis as he did on October 7 if his abilities were not stripped.

Liberman has so far chosen not to join the War Cabinet Netanyahu, saying PM Netanyahu should be persuaded to raise the issue at a cabinet meeting, where the document "is ignored just like that," including by the head of security.

About 2,500 Hamas militants reportedly stormed Israel by land, sea, and air on October 7, killing more than 1,400 people, most civilians, at their homes and at outdoor music festivals, and holding about 239 people hostage.