Behind Hamas’s True Target: Why New York, Not the Nova Festival, Was the Real Goal of October 7

The author reflects on writing their first book, explaining that while they penned over 10,000 articles at The Jerusalem Post, the idea of authoring a full-length book seemed daunting. Yet when approached by Wicked Son Publishers in New York, they seized the opportunity.

With over 20 books already published on military and intelligence failures, the author recognized a critical gap: a lack of insight into how Israel lost the media war following the October 7 attacks. While military lessons were quickly absorbed and applied, the media battlefield remained vulnerable—fueling a surge in antisemitism worldwide.

Their book reveals that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar understood the true power of global perception. Aware that the Palestinian cause was fading from international focus—especially with the Abraham Accords expanding to include Saudi Arabia—Hamas sought to re-center the world’s attention. As Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh openly stated in a January 2024 speech, the group launched “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” to restore the Palestinian issue to the top of the global agenda.

Hamas achieved this through what Haniyeh termed “verbal jihad,” leveraging surprise as its first strategic advantage. Caught off guard militarily, Israel was even less prepared for the media storm that followed. With no English-speaking spokesperson active on October 7 and no Consul-General in New York—a key hub for international media—the Israeli government lacked a coherent strategy for the crisis.

Meanwhile, Hamas had spent years planning its propaganda campaign under the guidance of veteran operative Abu Obeida. Their network included affiliated journalists embedded within major global media outlets, many of whom Israel had restricted from entering Gaza since 2014. Backed by Qatari funding and linked to Al Jazeera, these operatives played a central role in shaping worldwide narratives during the war.

The absence of prepared responses allowed anti-Israel voices to dominate public discourse, particularly among younger demographics and college campuses. These groups, emboldened by decades of organization and funding, exploited social media algorithms and emerging technologies to amplify anti-Jewish sentiment across the globe.

According to the author, Sinwar aimed to trigger broader conflicts once Western backing for Israel weakened—potentially amid Iranian nuclear advancement. Though recent military gains suggest otherwise, continued international criticism threatens to isolate Israel further—a scenario the book warns against.

To counter this trend, the author calls on future Israeli governments to prioritize the narrative war, echoing long-standing advocacy for stronger public diplomacy efforts. The book also provides over 30 practical strategies for engaging audiences via digital platforms.

Endorsed by leading figures in Israeli diplomacy and advocacy—including Natan Sharansky, Michael Oren, Nachman Shai, Gil Troy, and Noa Tishby—the work underscores the urgency of reclaiming the story behind the headlines.

Given ongoing relevance of the narrative battle, the publisher expedited release, timing its launch ahead of the anniversary of Simchat Torah. For the author, receiving their first copy on October 7 added symbolic weight to the project—one that seeks to prevent future tragedies on both military and media fronts.

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