The massacre that took place on October 7 will never be forgotten. It has been forever seared into the heart and soul of every Jew. It is now a strong part of our DNA, and will anguish us and at the same time guide us for generations to come.
Just as the Yom Kippur War in 1973 had a large Russian component, so too did the slaughter on October 7.
On July 20, 2022, Vladimir Putin flew to Iran to strengthen ties between the two countries. On August 16, 2023, Putin held a Zoom conference with Iranian officials to “reaffirm support for further developing Bilateral ties in trade, transport, logistics and energy,” as reported by TASS. One doesn’t have to read too much between the lines to understand that Russia was fully allied and in cahoots with Iran on all fronts. Iran would supply Russia with drones, missiles, and oil. Russia in turn would share technology and military assistance.
The Hamas attack on October 7 had been planned for at least two years. The Arab terrorists like to wreak havoc on anniversaries. This has always been their calling card. It is not a coincidence that Hamas attacked nearly to the day 50 years after the Yom Kippur War. They chose another Jewish holiday to do their dastardly and depraved deed.
There will be many conspiracy theories bandied about to explain how Israel was caught flat-footed. Israel will do a very thorough analysis. First and foremost, Israel has to be victorious in Gaza. There are many questions that will need to be answered. For example, how did Hamas obtain Grade A maps of Israeli Army bases. Where was the IDF for so many hours after the assault? What were the intelligence failures that led to the infiltration?
I believe Hamas coordinated the Times Square rally held on October 8 knowing full well they were going to attack on October 7. This is consistent with the fact that reporters from Reuters and AP accompanied the Hamas terrorists on October 7. Hamas had coordinated not only the attack but the disinformation campaign and rallies in the United States and around the world that followed suit. The New York Post’s report on American-born tech entrepreneur Neville Roy Singham, who has shelled out over $20 million to the People’s Forum, which organized the October 8 pro-Hamas rally, lends credence to Hamas being behind it. Singham is a Marxist who lives in China. He is connected to at least four propaganda news sites that boost the Chinese Communist Party, according to The New York Times, and quoted in the New York Post. The People’s Forum is calling for “more marches, walkouts, sit-ins, and other forms of direct action directed at the political offices, businesses, and work-places that fund, invest, and collaborate” with Israel.
The Russian connection to October 7 was in the form of cyber warfare technology given to the Iranians and to Hamas. Hamas’ “blinding plan” to take down Israel’s high-tech “Iron Wall,” upgraded since 2021 for $1 billion, neutralizing long-range cameras, sophisticated sensors, multiple alarm systems, and remote-control weapons, was helped by Russia’s cyber expertise. Having spoken to cyber experts, only Russia had the level of sophistication to make this happen. We have entered a new age where cyber is the new tank on the battlefield and the new fighter jet in the sky. Unless America and Israel are one step ahead of the new Axis of Evil, no one is safe.
Joseph M. Frager is a physician and lifelong activist.