Israeli Army Radio has revealed new details about how the Qassam Brigades spent years gathering intelligence on Israeli military systems, building simulations of bases, and disabling Merkava-4 tanks during the October 7 attack.
New Israeli media leaks continue to shed light on the extent of intelligence gathered by the Al-Qassam Brigades — the military wing of the Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas — ahead of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023.
The leaks suggest a level of access that allowed the brigades to study Israeli bases and military systems in unprecedented detail.
On October 7, Hamas fighters stormed Israeli military sites and settlements surrounding the Gaza Strip, killing and capturing Israelis. Hamas said the operation was carried out in response to Israel’s ongoing violations against Palestinians, including repeated attacks on worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
According to Al-Jazeera, a new report published by Israeli Army Radio said that Qassam fighters succeeded in disabling Merkava-4 tanks during the attack after obtaining sensitive information about their operation.
Hamas Document Reveals: Why We Carried Out Al-Aqsa Flood Operation – SUMMARY & PDF
The report said that Hamas monitored social media accounts belonging to thousands of Israeli occupation soldiers over several years and eventually identified a “secret button” inside the tanks that allows them to be disabled temporarily.
Additionally, according to the report, Hamas attempted to seize the tanks and transfer them into Gaza, and while that aspect of the plan reportedly did not succeed, the organization did manage to render several tanks unusable during the battle.
Israeli intelligence services reportedly remained puzzled for months over how Hamas accessed such precise operational details until early 2024, when Israeli forces uncovered evidence in a tunnel indicating years-long intelligence collection focused on Merkava systems and armored units.
The Israeli Army Radio also reportedly said that the Qassam Brigades developed a dedicated “tank force” and trained fighters using full-scale mock-ups and advanced simulators modeled on Israeli armored corps training systems.
According to Al-Jazeera, the report further stated that Hamas built a large intelligence unit of approximately 2,500 members to prepare for the operation, beginning as early as 2018.
Over the years, the unit reportedly monitored nearly 100,000 Israeli soldiers and infiltrated private online spaces, including messaging groups linked to elite units. The collected material reportedly included photos, videos, and training content filmed by soldiers inside bases, armored vehicles, and restricted military zones.
Two Years of Al-Aqsa Flood: Gaza’s Resistance Stands Firm amid Genocide
Using this information, Hamas is said to have produced detailed models and virtual reality simulations of military sites surrounding the Gaza Strip, enabling fighters to rehearse raids with high precision.
An Israeli officer interviewed in the report remarked, “We never imagined how accurate the replicas were,” while an Israeli Air Force officer stated, “Hamas knew our bases better than I did, even though I served there for years.”
Israeli officials have repeatedly described the events of October 7 as the most significant military and intelligence failure in the state’s history.
Despite mounting internal criticism, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to reject responsibility, in contrast with senior figures who have resigned.
Following October 7, Israel, backed by the United States, launched a devastating military campaign on Gaza, killing more than 69,000 Palestinians and wounding over 170,000, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
Although a ceasefire agreement was brokered on October 10, Israeli forces continue to violate it daily, resulting in further casualties.
(PC, AJA)
