**Title: Hamas's Ideology and Intentions Revealed After October 7**

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, revealing its longstanding violent intentions. Approximately 4,000 Hamas militants, along with around 2,000 other Gazans, breached the Gaza-Israel border. They attacked Israeli villages and kibbutzim, resulting in the deaths of about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the kidnapping of around 250 others. Despite later attempts by Hamas to distance itself from the violence, evidence suggests the attack was premeditated and aimed at causing mass casualties.

A notebook found on a deceased Hamas fighter in Kibbutz Be’eri contained orders to "kill as many people and take as many hostages as possible." Social media posts from Hamas that day displayed extreme brutality. One notable incident involved a phone call from a Hamas militant to his parents, where he boasted about killing multiple people, declaring, "I killed 10 with my own hands. Their blood is on my hands. … Mother, your son is a hero."

Hamas labeled the operation as "Operation Al Aqsa Flood." In an audio statement, military leader Mohammed Deif outlined grievances against Israel but clarified that the attack was not aimed at changing Israeli policy. He proclaimed, "Today, yes, today, our people resume their revolution, rectify their path and return to the plan of liberation and the establishment of the state through blood and martyrdom."

Deif called for Palestinians in the West Bank and Israel to join the uprising and reached out to allies in the Resistance Axis, which includes Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah. Reports indicate that the October 7 attack was not a singular event but part of a broader strategy to incite regional conflict and ultimately destroy Israel.

Planning for the assault had been ongoing for years, led by Yahya Sinwar, Hamas's leader in Gaza. Following a brief confrontation with Israel in May 2021, Sinwar projected an image of seeking calm while secretly preparing for the attack. However, the anticipated support from allies like Hezbollah and Iran did not materialize as expected. Many details of the operation were kept secret, with only a select few Hamas leaders informed in advance.

Despite some internal dissent regarding the attack's timing and brutality, Hamas leaders publicly supported the operation. Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas's political office, stated, "Our objective is clear: we want to liberate our land, our holy sites, our al-Aqsa, our prisoners."

In the aftermath, Khaled Meshaal, Haniyeh's predecessor, remarked that the events of October 7 created a path toward the elimination of Israel. Ghazi Hamad, a Hamas politburo member, emphasized that Hamas would continue its violent campaign until Israel was destroyed, stating, "We must teach Israel a lesson, and we will do this again and again."

Ali Baraka, another senior Hamas official, claimed that Hamas had successfully misled Israel into believing it was focused solely on governance in Gaza. This deception allowed Hamas to prepare for the attack without raising suspicions.

Israeli officials had underestimated Hamas's intentions, believing the group was deterred from large-scale conflict. Tzachi Hanegbi, Israel's national security adviser, noted that Hamas had shown unprecedented restraint in the years leading up to the attack. This belief was also echoed in academic circles, where some analysts argued that Hamas was evolving into a more moderate entity.

However, the events of October 7 starkly contradicted these assumptions, revealing that Hamas remained committed to its militant ideology and objectives. The attack has prompted a reevaluation of Hamas's intentions and the broader implications for regional stability.