US newspaper presents evidence of Hamas's motive of 'hiding and biding its time'; India reacts to UNIFIL incident in Lebanon

The New York Times cites minutes of a secret Hamas meeting years ago; India is worried about its military forces in Lebanon.

A damaged house after a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, in Kfar Azza, Israel. (Source: New York Times)

The New York Times , citing minutes of secret Hamas meetings discovered by Israeli forces in Gaza, showed that Hamas originally planned to launch a major cross-border attack on Israel in the fall of 2022 but postponed it until October 7 last year in an effort to draw in Iran and Hezbollah.

According to this newspaper's analysis, to convince Hezbollah, Hamas leaders cited Israel's unstable "internal situation" regarding the judicial reform process. Therefore, Hamas decided to "move forward with a strategic attack".

Despite feeling support from Hezbollah and Iran, Hamas decided to launch the attack on its own before Israel deployed its new air defense system. In addition, Hamas had a motive to disrupt the US-backed initiative to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

According to the article, Hamas leaders have sought to avoid major clashes with Israel for two years to carry out the October 7 attack in order to "keep the enemy believing that Hamas in Gaza wants peace".

India, as a “major troop-contributing country” to the UN, fully supports the joint statement issued by 34 troop-contributing countries to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFL) earlier in the day, the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations (UN) said on October 12.

In a post on social media X, the Indian mission said that the safety and security of UNIFL is "of utmost importance" and must be ensured in accordance with existing resolutions of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

This comes after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) injured two UN peacekeepers in Lebanon on October 11 during clashes with Hezbollah.

Responding to the incident, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement emphasizing: “Everyone must respect the inviolability of UN premises and must take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mandate.”

UNIFIL was established by the UN Security Council in March 1978 to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops after it invaded Lebanon in retaliation for attacks by Palestinian militants. It has operated along the “Green Line” separating Lebanon and Israel since the 1970s, and its mandate is renewed annually by the UN Security Council in August.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/bao-my-dua-ra-bang-chung-ve-dong-co-hamas-an-minh-cho-thoi-an-do-phan-ung-ve-vu-viec-unifil-o-lebanon-289901.html