Deciphering Hamas's Web of Support

Deciphering Hamas’s Web of Support

ISTANBUL, TURKEY – OCTOBER 07: People gather in support of the recent attacks on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas at Fatih Mosque on October 07, 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. At least 200 people have been killed and thousands wounded, according to officials. Israel has declared a state of war. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)

Posted: October 19th, 2023

CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING – Nearly two weeks after Hamas militants invaded Israel, targeting, kidnapping and killing civilians in a bloody massacre, questions remain around just how the Gaza-based terrorist organization was able to pull off such an elaborate and devastating operation under the nose of what is broadly considered one of the world’s most adept intelligence and security branches – igniting deeper concerns over the group’s strategic capabilities.

Ronen Bar, the head of Israel’s Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency accepted responsibility for the intelligence lapse saying in a statement issued Monday saying that the organization was “unable to generate sufficient warning that would allow the attack to be thwarted.”

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