Mossad carried out operations in Gaza up until 2021, sources confirm to 'Post'

Sources have confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad, conducted operations in Gaza during the tenure of former director Yossi Cohen, but these activities ceased in 2021. The operations, which did not occur leading up to Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, were reportedly small-scale and undertaken in partnership with and at the request of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security agency.

This clarification addresses earlier reports suggesting more significant and independent Mossad involvement in Gaza. The sources indicated that the operations focused on attempting to penetrate Hamas's military and intelligence structures, and that all such efforts ultimately failed. The agency's primary focus has historically been on Iran and global intelligence matters, with less emphasis on neighboring countries and the Palestinian territories.

The revelations emerge amid a period of intense scrutiny over intelligence failures preceding the October 7 attacks. While Mossad, like the IDF and Shin Bet, shared an assessment that Hamas was deterred prior to the attack, it has faced less public blame. This is partly attributed to its strategic focus on broader international threats, particularly Iran. Some observers suggest that leaks attributing failures to Mossad may originate from former IDF and Shin Bet officials seeking to balance responsibility for the intelligence lapses.