Hamas used landline phones in Gaza tunnels to evade Israeli intelligence for 2 years while plotting attack

 

A small cell of Hamas terrorists used old-school landline phones specially installed in the “spider web’’ of tunnels under Gaza to evade Israeli intelligence forces for two years while plotting the group’s horrific Oct. 7 attack, a report revealed.

The hard-wired phone system allowed Hamas to communicate without being detected by Israel or the United States, sources told CNN Tuesday, catching the Jewish state by surprise with the attack that left about 1,400 dead.

Planning meetings were held in person whenever possible, and digital communications on cellphones and computers were avoided to ensure secrecy, the sources said.

Knowledge about the attack was also kept secret from the majority of Hamas’ fighting force until days before the shock assault in an effort to prevent any information from slipping out — even as the terrorists trained above ground without knowing their objective.

“That’s how you compartment and keep something that’s tight,” a source told CNN, explaining that intelligence about Hamas’ network of secrecy was shared with the US by Israeli officials.

Intelligence officials were not alarmed to see Hamas training because “the thinking was, ‘Oh, they always train people like this.’ It didn’t look different,” the source said.

It is believed Hamas learned its security and secrecy methods from Iran, but US intelligence does not believe the nation was directly involved in actually planning the Oct. 7 attack, according to CNN.

Hamas’ tunnel network, called the “Gaza metro” by Israel Defense Forces, stretches more than 300 miles beneath Gaza, allowing the terror group to move its fighters, weaponry and supplies throughout the area without being detected from above.

The elaborate system is reportedly rigged with booby traps outfitted to force Hamas and Israeli troops into terrifying guerilla combat.

Many of the more than 200 Israeli and foreign hostages Hamas snatched two weeks ago are likely being held captive in the tunnel network, which is believed to run as deep as 130 feet underground and have entrances hidden in civilian buildings.

Though Israel has previously destroyed long stretches of the tunnels, Hamas is believed to have diverted millions of dollars in aid intended for Gaza Strip civilians to rebuild and fortify its defenses.