The 5 Hamas leaders who planned Oct 7 attack on Israel

Palestinian sources

have recently revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper new insights about the

Hamas's attack on Israel

on October 7. This operation was orchestrated by a small group of five: Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza; Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas's military wing; Yahya's brother Mohammed Sinwar; Ruhi Mushtaha; and Ayman Nofal, the central district commander who was later killed in the war.
According to a report in All Israel News, these commanders chose October 7 for the attack after field units reported unusual quietness along the border.

They finalized their decision on the preceding Friday, opting for a Saturday morning strike, taking advantage of Israel's day off. Orders were issued at midnight to prepare for the assault.
Field commanders and Nukhba forces were briefed and began advancing in the early hours before launching the attack. High-ranking Hamas officials abroad, including Ismail Haniyeh and his deputy, Saleh al-Arouri, were aware of an impending significant attack but were not privy to the exact timing, which they learned just hours before.
The attack commenced with 70 meticulously chosen terrorists from Hamas's elite Nukhba unit. These individuals, selected from hundreds, had undergone extensive training and regular skill assessments. They executed a surprise assault along the Gaza Strip border, exploiting weak points in the border barrier and utilizing gliders and parachutes to approach IDF positions, the All Israel News report said.

To maintain secrecy and avoid intelligence leaks to Israel, many Hamas brigade commanders in Gaza were kept in the dark about the attack plans.
Meanwhile, at the World Court on Thursday, Israel was confronted with allegations of committing genocide during its conflict in Gaza, coinciding with the return of the first residents to the heavily devastated northern areas of the enclave. Israeli forces have started withdrawing from these regions this week.

The three-month-long Israeli offensive has resulted in widespread destruction across the coastal territory, with over 23,000 fatalities and the displacement of nearly the entire 2.3 million Palestinian population. An Israeli blockade has severely limited access to essential supplies like food, fuel, and medicine, leading to what the United Nations has termed a humanitarian disaster.
Israel defends its actions as necessary for self-defense against Hamas. Hamas militants launched an attack on Israeli communities on October 7, resulting in 1,200 deaths and the capture of 240 hostages.
The lawsuit, initiated by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, charges Israel with breaching the 1948 genocide convention. This convention, established following the Holocaust's mass extermination of Jews, obligates nations to prevent such atrocities.
Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, a High Court advocate from South Africa, said at the court in The Hague, "Israel has a genocidal intent against the Palestinians in Gaza. The intent to destroy Gaza has been nurtured at the highest level of state."
South Africa has urged the court for an immediate injunction to halt Israeli military actions while the court deliberates on the case's full merits in the upcoming months.
In response, Israel's foreign ministry has criticized South Africa, accusing it of acting as "the legal arm of the Hamas terrorist organization" and basing its lawsuit on "false and baseless claims."
The ministry's statement further alleged, "South Africa seeks to allow Hamas to return to commit the war crimes, crimes against humanity and sexual crimes they committed repeatedly on October 7."
(With inputs from agencies)

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