In an exceptional episode of the program “What is Hidden is Greater,” broadcast by Al Jazeera, journalist Tamer Al-Mashal revealed unprecedented details about the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation carried out by the Al-Qassam Brigades on October 7, 2023.
The investigation included exclusive scenes revealed by the Al-Qassam Brigades for the first time, documenting the planning stages of the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation and its aftermath, from the convening of the military command until the moment of implementation.
Rare footage also appeared showing the Commander-in-Chief of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Muhammad Al-Deif, in full view, standing on his feet inside the military operations room, putting the final touches on the attack plan.
Addressing the operations commanders, the guest said: “We must change the course of history, so that we can take the lead at this stage and achieve one of God’s days in which flags will be raised.”
The episode also presented secret documents, including the operations order that the guest signed on October 5, 2023, which set the date of the attack at six-thirty in the morning on October 7, that is, two days before the operation. It also included identifying major Israeli military bases for the attack. It includes “Jephthah,” “Nahal Oz,” and “Kissufim.”
The episode included scenes of the head of the Hamas Political Bureau, Yahya Al-Sinwar, who played a major role in directing the resistance during the war, in addition to a special testimony from Izz Al-Din Al-Haddad, a member of the General Military Council of the Al-Qassam Brigades and commander of the Gaza Brigade.
Al-Haddad stated in an interview conducted with him under complex security circumstances that the leadership of the military apparatus had been in permanent session since October 1, to adjust the timing of implementation and supervise the operation, adding: “The occupation leadership, which is empowered by America and the West, will have no choice but to comply with our just demands to stop the aggression.” And withdrawal from the entire Gaza Strip.”
The first hours
In the early hours of the morning of October 7, thousands of fighters were able to cross the fence separating Gaza and the occupied territories, and the investigation documented scenes of Al-Qassam fighters from inside their tunnels, where they set up explosive devices and blew up Israeli vehicles. He also showed footage of elite fighters seizing the Israeli “Tiger” personnel carrier.
According to the program, the operation resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Israeli soldiers and officers, and the capture of about 250 people, and the operation was a historical shock to Israel, politically and militarily.
The war that followed the attack caused thousands of Palestinian martyrs and wounded, and widespread destruction in Gaza. However, experts such as Andreas Krieg believe that “the Israeli strategy of destruction is not a criterion of success, but rather evidence of failure in confronting a deeper idea of Hamas, which is resistance to the Palestinian people.” .
Al-Haddad’s speech came as the signing of the ceasefire agreement approached in the middle of this month, in which he stressed that Al-Qassam’s demands remain firm, indicating that the resistance will not back down from its rights, including the release of prisoners and reconstruction.
The episode presented exceptional documents and testimonies from within the military operations room, which demonstrated precise coordination between the Qassam leadership and the implementation of the operation. It also shed light on Israeli efforts to target the leaders of the resistance, including Al-Haddad, whom Tel Aviv described as one of the most prominent officials responsible for the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation. .
The investigation revealed the depth of planning that characterized the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation, the repercussions of which continue to shake the foundations of the Israeli occupation. As the resistance continues to strengthen its capabilities, this episode remains a living testimony to a new chapter in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
-Details of the flood process
The investigation reviewed the details of October 7, which witnessed a sudden and complex attack by the Al-Qassam Brigades on Israeli settlements and military bases around the Gaza Strip. Penetrating the fence separating Gaza and the occupied territories, and carrying out simultaneous land, sea and air attacks.
Exclusive footage showed Al-Qassam forces storming an Israeli military base and taking control of tanks and military vehicles belonging to the occupation army. The program also documented scenes of the bodies of Israeli soldiers killed during the clashes, in addition to rare footage of the process of detonating explosive devices planted by Al-Qassam fighters to target Israeli military vehicles.
The episode included exclusive testimonies from fighters from the Al-Qassam Brigades who participated in the storming operation, including the testimony of one of the fighters, who participated in the storming of Kibbutz “Be’eri,” in which he narrated the details of the clashes inside the kibbutz, stressing that the fighters preserved the lives of civilians and only fought those who clashed with them.
The fighters also revealed the details of the process of capturing Israeli soldiers, which was carried out according to an independent insurance plan. One of the fighters indicated that the number of prisoners was large, which required intensive Israeli reinforcements, which led to a violent bombardment of the kibbutz and its complete destruction.
The investigation indicated that the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation was the product of a complex strategic deception, as the Al-Qassam Brigades were able to deceive Israel that it would not respond to the Israeli escalation in the West Bank and Gaza.
Izz al-Din al-Haddad explained that Al-Qassam had detected signals and information confirming that Israel was planning a devastating war on the Gaza Strip, which prompted it to carry out a pre-emptive operation. He said, “We took this information seriously. Zero Hour was an operation par excellence, and the objectives set were achieved in the first hour.” .
Yahya Al-Sanwar
The episode also revealed exclusive footage of the leader of the Hamas political bureau, Yahya Al-Sinwar, whose name was linked to the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation, where he appeared leading military operations against the Israeli forces penetrating Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. The program also documented the moments when Sinwar led a number of ambushes and successful operations against the occupation army.
The footage showed Al-Sinwar wandering between ambushes and fighters, and planning to carry out military operations with field commanders. He also appeared standing in front of an Israeli troop carrier after it was targeted, stressing the resistance’s determination to continue the struggle until victory is achieved.
The Israeli occupation army published the details of the operation in which Al-Sanwar was martyred in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, which showed that the man continued to resist until the last breath of his life.
The investigation confirmed that the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation constituted a major shock to Israel, and revealed a catastrophic failure of the Israeli intelligence service (Shin Bet) in anticipating the attack. Israeli military expert Alon Avitar said: “Hamas surprised us with its military capabilities and determination to fight until the end.”
The episode “What is Hidden is Greater” presented a comprehensive and detailed account of one of the most daring and complex military operations in the history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, through exclusive scenes and rare interviews, in which the program revealed unprecedented details about planning and implementation, and highlighted the role of field commanders and fighters during the operation.
Since the beginning of the war, the number of officers and soldiers killed in the occupation army – whose names were allowed to be published – has reached 841 dead, in addition to 5,656 injured, but Palestinian and Israeli reports indicate that the real toll is higher than that.
