1. Militarized training and joint exercises: Since 2020, the five Palestinian armed organizations led by Hamas have conducted joint exercises in Gaza. These exercises include tactics such as hostage-taking, attacking camps and breaking through Israeli defenses, and are very similar to the tactics used in the 7 October attack on Israel.
2. Hamas leadership and organization: Hamas, the most powerful armed organization in Gaza, is the dominant force in the coalition. It brings together 10 other Palestinian factions in war game-style maneuvers.
3. The public nature and intent of the exercises: These exercises were documented in carefully edited videos and posted on social media, demonstrating the "permanent state of readiness" of the armed factions and the threat they pose to Israel.
4. Execution of the attack: In the October 7 attack, five groups posted videos showing their involvement in the attack, and three others made written statements on Telegram claiming involvement.
5. Israeli response and surveillance: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has carried out air strikes to disrupt Hamas training activities. However, Israeli warnings about these trainings were reportedly ignored.
6. Level of realism of exercises: Hamas ensured that the exercises were realistic, including attacking simulated Israeli military bases and using a variety of tactics.
7. Scale and impact of the attack: The attack meant that the participants were a small fraction of the total number of militants in Gaza. Hamas received cross-factional support in preparation for the attack.
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