In a recent interview on NBC News, John Kirby, the National Security Council’s coordinator for strategic communications, stated that there is no indication that U.S. intelligence was aware of Hamas’ plan to attack Israel. This statement comes in response to a report from The New York Times, which claimed that Israeli officials had obtained the attack plan over a year ago. Kirby emphasized that the U.S. intelligence community did not have access to this document beforehand and that there was no advance warning or knowledge of the attack plan. The focus, according to Kirby, should now be on eliminating the threat posed by Hamas and ensuring the safety of the Israeli people.
No Indication U.S. Intelligence Was Aware of Hamas’ Israel Attack Plan
In a recent report by The New York Times, it was revealed that Israeli officials obtained Hamas’ plans for its attack on Israel over a year before it was executed. The report cited documents, emails, and interviews, stating that the document was circulated among Israeli military and intelligence officials. However, according to John Kirby, the National Security Council’s coordinator for strategic communications, there is no indication that the U.S. intelligence community was aware of this attack plan.
Background
The attack plan in question refers to an attack by Hamas on Israel that occurred on October 7th. The New York Times report suggests that Israel had knowledge of this plan for over a year before it took place. The document detailing the attack plan was reportedly circulated among Israeli military and intelligence officials. However, there is no indication that U.S. intelligence had access to this document or was aware of the attack plan.
NY Times Report on Israeli Knowledge of Attack Plan
The New York Times report highlights the fact that Israeli officials obtained Hamas’ attack plan more than a year before it was executed. The report cites documents, emails, and interviews as evidence of this knowledge. However, it is important to note that this information was not shared with the U.S. intelligence community.
Interview with John Kirby on Meet the Press
During an interview on Meet the Press, John Kirby addressed the issue of U.S. intelligence’s knowledge of the Hamas attack plan. Kirby stated that the U.S. intelligence community has indicated that they did not have access to the document detailing the attack plan. He emphasized that there is no indication that U.S. intelligence had any advance warning or knowledge of the attack plan.
Lack of U.S. Intelligence Access to the Document
Kirby acknowledged that the U.S. intelligence community did not have access to the document that outlined Hamas’ attack plan. While U.S. and Israeli intelligence officials often coordinate their efforts, in this case, there was a lack of access to this particular document. Kirby explained that intelligence is often like a puzzle, and sometimes there are missing pieces.
Coordination between U.S. and Israeli Intelligence Officials
The coordination between U.S. and Israeli intelligence officials is crucial in ensuring the safety and security of both countries. However, in the case of the Hamas attack plan, there was a lack of information sharing between the two intelligence communities. While cooperation and coordination are generally strong, it appears that there was a gap in this instance.
Intelligence Community’s Perspective on the Document
The U.S. intelligence community has assessed the situation and determined that they did not have any indications or access to the document detailing Hamas’ attack plan. This assessment suggests that the U.S. intelligence community was not aware of the plan beforehand and did not have any knowledge of its existence.
Assessment of Israeli and U.S. Intelligence
The failure to share information about the Hamas attack plan between Israeli and U.S. intelligence officials raises questions about the effectiveness of their collaboration. It is essential for both countries to have a robust intelligence sharing system in place to prevent such incidents. The lack of knowledge on the U.S. side indicates a need for further evaluation and potential improvements in communication and coordination between the two intelligence communities.
Israel’s Response to the Failure
Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel has acknowledged the failure in Israeli intelligence regarding the Hamas attack plan. He has publicly stated that this failure occurred on their part. Israel will conduct a thorough investigation to understand why the attack plan was not taken seriously and to learn from this failure. It is crucial for Israel to rectify any shortcomings in their intelligence system to prevent future similar incidents.
Blinken’s Commitment to Accountability
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed a commitment to accountability in the aftermath of the Hamas attack. He has stated that there will be an evaluation of what led up to the attack and an examination of the failures that occurred. The focus is on ensuring that such an attack does not happen again. The United States will support Israel in its efforts to eliminate the threat posed by Hamas while also emphasizing the importance of minimizing civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.
In conclusion, there is no indication that the U.S. intelligence community was aware of Hamas’ attack plan on Israel. While Israeli officials obtained the attack plan over a year before it took place, this information was not shared with U.S. intelligence. The lack of coordination and information sharing between the two intelligence communities highlights the need for improved collaboration. Israel has acknowledged the failure and will conduct a thorough investigation. Secretary of State Blinken has emphasized the importance of accountability and taking measures to prevent future incidents.