Documents recovered from the bodies of dead Hamas militants detail plans to raid Israeli schools and youth centers, kill as many people as possible, and transport hostages quickly into the Gaza Strip, according to a new report.
Israeli first responders found the documents, which include a map of Israeli towns near Gaza, and shared them with NBC News. The outlet released a report and photos of the documents, all in Arabic, on Friday. The settlements of Kfar Sa’ad, Kfar Aza, Nahal Oz, and Alumim, which border Gaza, were circled on the map. Other pages include Arabic labels and instructions, such as “top secret,” “top secret maneuver,” “kill as many as possible,” “capture hostages,” “contain the new Da’at school,” “search the Bnei Akiva youth center,” and “search the old Da’at school,” per NBC.
PALESTINIAN TERROR-TIED GROUPS POCKET HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS FROM BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
The attack plans directed fighters to a school and a youth center in Kfar Sa’ad and provided detailed instructions on how Hamas operatives should infiltrate the community. The Washington Examiner could not verify whether the center mentioned in the plans was expecting visitors on the Simchat Torah holiday last Saturday.
Israeli officials cited by NBC claimed there was evidence Hamas had been gathering intelligence on the areas for some time, with a particular focus on places where women and children could be captured and abducted.
Hamas launched a multi-pronged offensive against Israel last weekend, sending a barrage of rockets toward Israeli cities while fighters stormed kibbutzes and military bases near Gaza. In some places, Hamas members went door to door, executing Israeli civilians and kidnapping others. Operatives also bombed Israeli security infrastructure, stole military vehicles, opened fire on civilian motorists, and massacred festival-goers near the town of Re’im. In all, about 1,300 Israelis were killed.
Israel has responded by hunting down and killing Hamas fighters in Israeli territory, shutting off water and electricity to Gaza, and bombarding the area with airstrikes.
“Absolutely barbaric. Elementary schools and baby nurseries,” Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY) wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, in response to NBC’s story. “Let’s not forget what the enemy did.”
“Shocking details targeting women and children,” Rep. Steve Cohen (R-TN) wrote.
“Targeting elementary schools to kill and kidnap is anything but freedom fighting,” Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) wrote.
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“This is pure evil,” Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said of the report.
Some 2,900 people have died in the conflict, among them 27 U.S. citizens. There are also likely to be some Americans among the 150 people taken hostage.
