"We received messages before 10/7 that Hamas would consider a major abduction operation"

Former head of the IDF General Staff Negotiation Unit, Col. (res.) Doron Hadar, revealed in an interview that mediators between Israel and Hamas warned before October 7 that the political stalemate would lead Hamas to consider a significant attack, including a major abduction operation. Hadar said the understanding was that without a hostage deal, Hamas would pursue a game-changing move.

Former head of the IDF General Staff Negotiation Unit, Col. (res.) Doron Hadar, revealed today in an interview on the program "Bahatzi Hayom" on Kan News that the mediators between Israel and Hamas in the period leading up to the October 7 massacre conveyed messages to Israel that the political stalemate could cause Hamas to consider a significant attack. Hadar, who took part in the hostage negotiation talks before October 7, said the understanding was that without a hostage deal, Hamas would have no choice and would pursue a game-changing move to alter its situation. According to him, over the years, messages were received from various mediators that if a deal did not progress, Sinwar was considering the possibility of launching a major abduction operation to bring other assets. These remarks come amid the public uproar surrounding the "warning call" that Netanyahu allegedly received from the President of the United Arab Emirates before the massacre, as published in the Haaretz newspaper.

"We received messages before 10/7 that Hamas would consider a major abduction operation"