Tasnim narrates the events that preceded Operation Al-Aqsa Flood
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The Iranian Tasnim Agency recounts the events that took place before and during Hamas’s surprise attack on the settlements surrounding the Gaza Strip.
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Members of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, take part in a parade on July 13, 2015 in Rafah, in the Gaza Strip (Said Khatib/AFP)
The Iranian Tasnim agency, citing sources in the occupied Palestinian territories, narrated the events that preceded the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, launched by Hamas on Saturday, October 7.
In the last hours before the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, the Shin Bet security agency, known as the Shabak, found out -- through its espionage sources -- about the movement of some Palestinian resistance behind the separation wall of the Gaza Strip. This information reached the chief of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, at two o'clock. At dawn, he was informed of the initial information after arriving at the headquarters.
According to Tasnim sources, "the initial reports were first shared with the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Chief of Aman (Israeli Military Intelligence), and several other officers. However, when the Chief of Staff downplayed the significance of the news, Shabak took direct action."
The initial information that reached the Israeli military and the Shin Bet focused on the possibility of conducting military exercises by the Palestinian resistance factions.
Subsequently, "Shabak decided to send a team of seven forces, known as the 'Tequila Team,' in two groups of three and four members to Kibbutz 'Nativ Ha'sra' in the north of Gaza, and the other was dispatched to Kibbutz 'Beiri' in the east of Gaza, to get more information," as per Tasnim.
These two groups arrived at their designated areas around 5 AM, only to be ambushed by Hamas Resistance Faction forces who were waiting for them. All the members were eliminated.
After the first engagement, Shabak immediately requested reinforcement, leading to the dispatch of a team from Yamam, a special forces unit.
The Yamam assistance team arrived in the midst of the ongoing battle with Hamas fighters in which nine of their members were also killed at the hands of Palestinian resistance fighters. Nine of the Yamam forces were killed by the Palestinian Resistance fighters.
"Following the events, the first report was provided at 6 AM to Avi Gil, the head of the Prime Minister's Military Office. He then informed Benjamin Netanyahu at 6:29 AM, and Netanyahu himself arrived at the government building in The Kirya at 7:30 AM," according to Tasnim.
During the initial hours of the conflict, Tasnim's sources reveal that "between 800 to 1000 Palestinian fighters" infiltrated the occupied territories from 80 different points, entering 20 [settlements] and 11 military bases of the Israeli military.
It is worth mentioning that both Shin Bet and Aman acknowledged their failure in repelling the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
In recent days, the Israeli media has talked about the state of shock experienced by the security and military institutions of the Isreali occupation, following the catastrophic intelligence failure on the day of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
The Israeli Walla! website had confirmed that the Hamas movement had "drugged and deceived Israel" for a year while it was preparing for the operation. The website then turned to the Shin Bet and the Army to demand answers regarding the operation.
