Al Jazeera airs rare footage of Muhammad Deif, documents detailing October 7 attack plans

The footage showed Hamas commanders meeting in tunnels before October 7 and Muhammad Deif, underground during the war, alongside documents allegedly detailing preparations for the attack.

Rare archival footage of Muhammad Deif and other senior commanders of Hamas's military wing was broadcast Friday evening on Al Jazeera's "What Is Hidden Is Greater" program.

The footage allegedly shows senior Hamas military officials meeting in tunnels, holding discussions ahead of the October 7 massacre, and Deif walking through a tunnel during the war. The network also presented documents it claims shed light on the planning behind the attack.

In one video, Deif is seen walking through a tunnel wearing a hat and speaking with those accompanying him. Additional footage shows senior Hamas military commanders greeting one another before gathering for a meeting and later praying together underground.

Among those identified in the footage were Deif's deputy, Marwan Issa, Mohammed Sinwar, Izz al-Din al-Haddad, Ra'ad Sa'ad, Ahmed Randour, and Rafa'a Salameh.

The program also featured footage of Deif alongside former Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh inside a rocket manufacturing workshop.

Al Jazeera also aired a recording of a conversation between Deif and Sinwar that, according to the network, took place following the IDF's Operation Guardian of the Walls in 2021.

Another segment shows Deif in Hamas's operations room, examining models of Israeli tanks and discussing a battle plan with brigade commanders.

Documents detail operational order issued two days before October 7 massacre

Alongside the footage, Al Jazeera released documents it claims detail Hamas's preparations for the October 7 attack.

One document, dated October 5, 2023, was presented as the operational order signed by Deif following a six-hour staff meeting. According to the program, the document specified that the attack would begin at 6:30 a.m.

Another document, reportedly from a February 2023 meeting of Hamas's inner military command, allegedly records the decision to begin preparing for the attack, months before it was carried out.