Hamas Issues 'Unprecedented' Warning of October 7-Style Attacks
The militant group, facing pressure, states it is prepared to repeat its deadly assault on Israel and abroad.
Hamas has issued an "unprecedented" warning that it is prepared to carry out attacks similar to the October 7 massacre against targets in Israel, Judea, Samaria, and abroad, according to a report citing the group's recent communications.
UN humanitarian coordinator Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov reportedly met with senior Hamas officials in Gaza last week. During the meeting, the officials conveyed the threat, stating that Hamas is struggling financially and losing control over the Gaza Strip due to ongoing Israeli military operations and border demarcation shifts. They also expressed frustration with Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas for canceling scheduled elections.
Alakbarov is understood to have relayed this warning to Major General Yoram Halevy, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).
The threat comes shortly after Israel announced the elimination of Tamer Muhammad Ibrahim al-Sabbagh, a Hamas terrorist involved in the abduction and killing of Shani Louk on October 7. Al-Sabbagh was the final member of the Hamas cell responsible for Louk's death. Three other members of the cell were killed earlier in the conflict, and one has been captured.
Louk, a 22-year-old Israeli civilian, was kidnapped from the Nova music festival near Re’im on October 7, 2023. Infamous images showed her being paraded through Gaza in a pickup truck. Forensic examiners confirmed her death in late October 2023 after identifying a piece of her skull, and her remains were returned to Israel for burial in May 2024.
According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), al-Sabbagh had engaged in advanced attacks against Israeli troops and civilians and acted to systematically restore Hamas's capabilities in violation of a ceasefire.
International mediators have continued to demand that Hamas disarm, a condition considered necessary for a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that includes the eventual reconstruction of Gaza. However, progress has been stalled due to disagreements over the terms for Hamas to surrender its weapons and for Israel to withdraw its troops.
Israeli airstrikes have intensified in recent weeks. Palestinian authorities report over 74,000 deaths in Gaza since the conflict began, following the October 7 attacks in which Hamas terrorists killed 1,200 people. Israel states that four soldiers have been killed since the last ceasefire.