This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

JERUSALEM – New – and damning – documents, the contents of which were released Thursday, highlight an IDF intelligence unit picked up signals for the preparation of rocket fire on Israel on the night before Oct. 7. According to Ynet, the same unit observed unusual activity of the Hamas aerial force.

The details of the report are deeply concerning, providing more questions than answers about the apparent unpreparedness of the IDF, in spite of the strong signs Hamas was preparing a significant attack. One of the clearest conclusions was the continuation of the prevailing sense of "conception." The Military Intelligence Directorate, governed by a wide consensus, did not brace for a possible assault. Apparently, this was part of an attempt to avoid burning sources, amid other "calming indications" suggesting Hamas was merely preparing an exercise.

It was a catastrophic failure of imagination, and scarcely believable. This information was reportedly included in official records seen by both top government and security personnel, and was presented in support of Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi's resignation earlier this week.

As early as 2 a.m. – some four-and-a-half hours before the attack – the Israeli Air Force command center was informed about unusual activity in the Hamas aerial units. There were also signs of Hamas operatives preparing for rocket launches. These signs were also discussed with the head of the Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Yaron Finkelman – who also tended his resignation earlier this week – other senior IDF officers as well as air force representatives and the Shin Bet. At this stage, neither the head of Military Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Aharon Haliva – who resigned in April – nor IAF head Maj.-Gen. Tomer Bar participated.

Three possible scenarios emerged from the discussions; an extensive Hamas drill, preparations by the terrorist group to defend against an IDF assault, or an operation of their own against Israel in the coming hours, which could have included a strike from the sea against a gas rig, a border breach, using the tunnels to abduct soldiers or civilians, a shooting attack, rocket attack or an aerial incursion through the use of paragliders. Those present agreed to monitor the situation, and Halevi had planned to reconvene at 8:30 a.m. unless there were "significant developments."

There was no 8:30 meeting. At 6:29 a.m. rocket sirens across much of Israel were activated as thousands of Hamas operatives used the cover of the rocket fire to begin their assault on the southern communities. They would be joined later by more than 2,000 "ordinary Gazans" as they raped, murdered and pillaged their way into kibbutzim close to the border fence.

These documents do not comprise the official probe into the failures of Oct. 7, a process which is ongoing. The IDF said it would complete its inquiries in the coming weeks and will present its findings to the public.

Other drips of information which have been released about the intelligence failings immediately prior to the Oct. 7 attacks also highlight a failure to act on suspicious activity. For example, Hamas' repeated attempts to blow up the security fence along the Gaza border in preparation for their murderous operation were dismissed as "provocations." In addition, Israeli intelligence operatives picked up hundreds of terrorists activating Israeli SIM cards in their phones. These were detected around midnight, as Oct. 6 ticked into Oct. 7.

The answer to the question about why the Nova Music Festival – at which hundreds of Israelis were mown down, butchered and many women raped – was allowed to continue despite the warning signs seems unsatisfactory. A senior officer told Ynet "protecting sources was prioritized." The source added the music festival would have been canceled if they had assessed the threat was actually imminent, and would have been prioritized over intelligence sources. The question of why it was not, will no doubt, like the outgoing chief of staff said about his own involvement, "haunt" them for the rest of their days.