Saturday's assault was the worst breach in Israel's defences since the Arab armies waged war in 1973. Israel has admitted it 'made a mistake' as it underestimated Hamas forces.
Israel was caught off guard by Hamas's careful and devastating attack, with the force using bulldozers, hang gliders and motorbikes against the Middle East's most powerful army. Saturday's assault was the worst breach in Israel's defences since the Arab armies waged war in 1973. While Israel was led to believe Hamas only cared about jobs for its workers, the group's fighters were being trained and drilled, often in plain sight, a source close to Hamas told Reuters.
Fighters 'didn't know why they were being trained' The fighters deployed didn't know why they were being trained ahead of the weekend, one source also claimed. Some Hamas leaders were also unaware of the plans in a bid to control leaks, as Israel has long prided itself on its ability to infiltrate and monitor Islamist groups. In the West Bank, controlled by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah group, there were those who mocked Hamas for going quiet.
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