Hamas intended to deploy hundreds of heavily armed operatives from primary terrorist hubs such as Tulkarem and Jenin to execute mass-casualty assaults on both civilian settlements and critical military outposts.

By Hezy Laing

The IDF has uncovered extensive Hamas plans for a large‑scale, multi‑front massacre in Judea and Samaria, similar in structure and intent to the October 7 attacks carried out in southern Israel.

The discovery emerged during ongoing operations in Gaza, where intelligence units from Unit 8200, AMAN, and Shin Bet analysts examined thousands of documents, digital files, and operational manuals seized from Hamas command centers.

The materials included detailed attack blueprints, target lists, and logistical instructions indicating Hamas intended to infiltrate Israeli communities across the Judea and Samaria region using coordinated squads.

Intelligence officers found maps of Israeli towns, security patrol schedules, and plans for mass hostage‑taking.

Some documents described routes from northern Samaria toward communities such as Elkana, Ariel, and Karnei Shomron, while others focused on southern areas near Gush Etzion and Hebron.

According to the IDF, the plans were designed to overwhelm local defenses and exploit gaps between civilian security teams and military response units.

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that recovered computer files, physical maps, and tactical handbooks explicitly outline a coordinated, multi-pronged infiltration strategy.

Hamas intended to deploy hundreds of heavily armed operatives from primary terrorist hubs such as Tulkarem and Jenin to execute mass-casualty assaults on both civilian settlements and critical military outposts.

The discovery was part of a broader intelligence picture. During operations in Gaza City, Khan Yunis, and Rafah, the IDF also found additional operational plans unrelated to Judea and Samaria.

These included instructions for attacks on major Israeli highways such as Route 232 and Route 4, schemes for mass rocket launches targeting Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport, and Haifa, and documents outlining cooperation with other militant groups in Lebanon.

This component of the plan was partially set in motion when authorities intercepted explosive charges hidden on five commercial buses in Bat Yam and Holon, which carried distinct tactical markers traced back to Hamas cells operating in Samaria.

Intelligence units also uncovered training materials for UAV‑guided attacks, tunnel‑based infiltration routes, and plans for coordinated assaults on IDF bases including Re’im, Nahal Oz, and Zikim.

The IDF stated that Hamas’s Judea and Samaria plan relied heavily on smuggling weapons through the Jordan Valley and on recruiting operatives in cities such as Nablus, Jenin, and Tulkarem.

Security officials emphasized that the discovery explains the sharp rise in attempted attacks in the region throughout 2023–2024, including shootings, bomb placements, and infiltration attempts.

The newly uncovered documents have led to expanded IDF operations in Judea and Samaria, increased deployment of special forces battalions, and intensified cooperation with Shin Bet to prevent the execution of any remaining Hamas operational networks.

Additionally, newly unclassified files published by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center exposed a comprehensive, long-term strategic deception plan orchestrated by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and the military wing’s spokesperson, Abu Obeida.

The documents confirm that Hamas deliberately absorbed tactical losses and refrained from responding to minor security incidents in Jerusalem and Judea/Samaria since early 2022 to lull Israeli command structures into a false sense of complacency.

While simulating diplomatic moderation, Hamas was quietly funneling cash through front organizations, establishing weapon storage facilities, and preparing fortified deployment points to secure an operational foothold for a multi-front conflict.