Hamas's military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, released a video showing the development process of artillery units in Gaza City and preparations ahead of the October 7, 2023 Al-Aqsa Flood operation. The video also included an official tribute to commander Muhammad Mahmoud Jarada, who was killed on July 8, 2024.
Training and preparation footage
The footage showed special maneuvers, rocket and mortar fire from before Al-Aqsa Flood. Commander Jarada, as head of the Gaza Brigade's artillery units, was recorded participating in rocket salvos and mortar strikes targeting Israeli army forces entering the area.
Jarada's message to fighters
The video also includes Jarada's addresses to battalion soldiers before the operation. Jarada said, "After years of preparation and equipment, every battle will bring greater surprises and an increase in the intensity of attacks." He told his fighters, "Victory is very near; by God's permission, with your firing arms and our assault units we will enter through their gate." Jarada also threatened Israeli forces with unprecedented fire intensity, saying, "The fire will be many times greater than what you saw in training; the flood of fire that the Al-Qassam Brigades will rain down on the enemy will be extremely severe." These words were accompanied by footage of intense rocket salvos targeting Israeli cities.
Alongside martyred commanders
The video showed Jarada alongside senior commanders of the Al-Qassam Brigades who were killed in previous assassinations or clashes with the Israeli army. These included former chief of staff Izz al-Din al-Haddad, prominent commander Raed Saad, key engineer Jamal al-Zubeidi, commander Ayman Siyam, Shujaiya Battalion commander Wisam Farhat, commander Bassem Issa, and other field commanders.
The start of Al-Aqsa Flood
At dawn on Saturday, October 7, 2023, in a recorded audio message, Al-Qassam Brigades chief of staff Mohammed al-Deif announced, "We declare the start of the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation with the first strike targeting the enemy's military positions, airports and fortifications." Al-Deif claimed that this initial strike involved more than 5,000 rockets and shells in the first 20 minutes.
Military analysts noted that the rocket attack was not an independent act but a fundamental pillar of a comprehensive military plan. The attack reportedly fulfilled several tactical objectives, including overwhelming the Iron Dome, creating a fire shield, neutralizing surveillance systems and air forces, and sowing chaos and confusion. According to Hamas, the rocket salvos led to the deaths of around 20 Israelis, including soldiers, and wounded dozens.
