Handwritten Document Reveals Hamas Anticipated Israeli Nuclear Response Before 7 October Attack

A handwritten document penned by former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in August 2022 has revealed the group’s in-depth preparations for a large-scale attack on Israel, anticipating an extreme response that could include the use of nuclear weapons. The document, obtained by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center and published by Channel 12, shows Sinwar predicted Israel would initially be thrown into chaos by the surprise assault before responding with all available means. ‘There is a possibility that they (Israel) will even use nuclear bombs,’ Sinwar wrote specifically. The notes describe the planned operation as a life-or-death campaign and call for a popular operation to return to and symbolically reclaim villages. The tactical plan detailed the division of forces: 2,210 fighters to attack 221 kibbutzim and small communities, 1,600 for eight large communities, 1,200 for urban areas, and 2,000 personnel for military bases. These figures far exceeded the number of personnel actually involved in the 7 October attack. Specific instructions ordered militants to expel settlers using their own cars, giving priority to children and women, while men aged 17 to 50 were to be taken as hostages. Sinwar also instructed that all mobile phones and additional documents carried by victims be confiscated, and the notes stressed operational secrecy, stating that no one beyond the core leadership knew the general purpose of the plan. The findings provide a clearer picture of the scale of Hamas’s ambitions and how the group prepared for a total confrontation with Israel long before the escalation broke out on the ground.