Hamas planned to detonate bombs in Gaza refugee camps to help terrorists escape, says IDF

During the Oct. 7 Gaza War, Hamas planned to detonate explosives near camps for displaced Palestinians as IDF forces approached, allowing operatives hiding in the camps to escape, the IDF revealed on Monday.

The IDF spokesperson shared a copy of an internal planning document that the military said was written by Hamas’ engineering department in April 2024, while active combat operations were ongoing in the Gaza Strip.

The document, as translated by the IDF, called for “placing roadside explosives around displaced persons camps and detonating them directly against enemy vehicles to disrupt the enemy’s attack plans.”

The document describes another scenario in which explosives, such as stun grenades, would be detonated “in the air as the enemy approaches the targeted area, in order to create smoke screens, distract the enemy, and divert their focus and efforts away from the primary objective.”

‼️🔎REVEALED: An internal document belonging to Hamas detailing plans to plant explosive devices in areas of displaced persons camps in Gaza. The document shows that Hamas' engineering department proposed planting explosive devices around displaced persons camps and detonating them as IDF troops approached, placing the civilian population in the camps at risk, in order to create panic as a smokescreen for the escape of its operatives. This was part of Hamas’ preparations to protect its leadership and operatives, while endangering and exploiting the civilian population in the area, fully aware that these actions were likely to cause direct harm to civilians.

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 19, 2026

Another strategy described in the document is the planting of improved explosive devices (IEDs) “along anticipated routes that the enemy is expected to use for rapid advances toward displaced persons camps, to provide early warning to the relevant parties, delay the enemy’s advance, and thwart their plans from the outset as much as possible.”

The IDF said the plan demonstrates Hamas terror group's “cynical exploitation” of civilians, effectively turning them into human shields to protect the terror operatives.

“This was part of Hamas’ preparations to protect its leadership and operatives, while endangering and exploiting the civilian population in the area, fully aware that these actions were likely to cause direct harm to civilians,” the IDF said in an official statement.

During past counter-terrorism operations in Judea and Samaria, IDF troops have encountered similar tactics, with IEDs placed beneath roads used by the Israeli forces and Palestinian civilians to enter and exit the refugee camps.

In several cases, Palestinians driving heavier vehicles have been killed or injured by these explosives.