Arab Diplomat Blames Iran for Hamas Massacre, Notes Israeli Intelligence Failure

Jerusalem, 9 October, 2023 (TPS) -- A senior Arab diplomat involved in mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas blames Iran for the massive assault on Israeli communities near the Gaza border.

“The Hamas attack from the Gaza Strip is the result of an Iranian decision, designed to thwart the agreement to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia,” the diplomat told the Tazpit Press Service.

He said Iran has examined action plans in Gaza, Lebanon and the Persian Gulf.

“Now, in view of the success of the action plan in Gaza, there is an evident intention on the part of Hamas and Iran to expand the campaign to the Lebanese arena as well,” he said.

The diplomat noted that “Hamas was chosen to lead the plan by carrying out an attack from the Gaza Strip, even though various elements in the Hamas leadership opposed the attack from the Strip.”

With Hamas judging the attack as a success, “All senior Hamas officials, including [Hamas leader in Gaza Yahye] Sinwar share in the escalation policy formulated above.”

Moreover, “Iran promised Hamas a safety belt before the operation began.”

However, the diplomat also faulted Israel for an intelligence breakdown.

“The Israeli intelligence failure lies in the fact that Muhammad Deif, the leader of the military branch in the Gaza Strip, was a participant in all the talks and decisions and even enforced them on Yahye Sinwar and other Hamas leaders in the Strip,” the diplomat told TPS.

He said that the US, Egypt and Saudi Arabia were aware of Iran’s intentions, stressing, “Israel and the United States must examine the reasons for the intelligence failure, mainly because they knew about Iran’s intentions and because Israel had to know the moves of Muhammad Deif.