What Hamas was really trying to stop by October 7 attack

Hamas planned the October 7 attack to thwart the normalization process between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the Wall Street Journal revealed this morning (Sunday).

The transcript of a secret Hamas meeting was found in one of their tunnels and it revealed that the terrorist organization viewed the rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabia as a strategic threat to its goals, especially against the background of Saudi Arabia's intentions to renew ties with Israel in exchange for security agreements with the United States.

Sinwar made it clear that an "extraordinary act" was needed to thwart the normalization talks. The murderous attack, which resulted in the deaths of some 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of about 250 others, was planned for years, and was carried out using a sophisticated covert system that included secure underground communications.

Hamas aimed for an action that would create a deep upheaval preventing any further reconciliation process between moderate Arab countries and Israel.

The exposure strengthens the assessment that Hamas is not acting solely out of local motives of lifting the siege or responding to provocations, but rather from a regional strategy intended to maintain its status as a key player in the Palestinian arena and prevent agreements that might push it out.