American Reports Reveal Hamas' Planning of Gaza Attacks Since 2022
Iran's denial of involvement in the October 7 attacks reflects an attempt to evade international responsibility, despite its long record of supporting armed groups in the region
October 13, 2024, 10:38 pm

American Reports Reveal Hamas' Planning of Gaza Attacks Since 2022

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In a new development reflecting the complexities of the regional scene, the Iranian mission to the United Nations strongly denied reports linking Tehran to the October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas against Israeli settlements. The mission described these allegations as "resulting from delusions of the Zionist regime," accusing Israel of spreading lies and forging documents.

The Iranian mission, responding to inquiries from the "Washington Post," affirmed that it considers the Israeli regime "criminal, anti-human, and a liar," rejecting any credibility of Israeli documents claiming Hamas requested $500 million from Iran in preparation for the attack.

In contrast, an American report published by the "New York Times" revealed that Hamas planned the October 7 operation since the fall of 2022, and sought to convince Iran and Hezbollah to participate. The report added that the movement asked Iran in July 2023 to pave the way for the attacks by striking Israeli sites, but Tehran and Hezbollah asked for more time.

Analysts view these contradictions in narratives as reflecting the complexity of the regional scene and the difficulty of reaching the full truth behind the October 7 attacks. They also point out that Iran's denial of involvement may be an attempt to evade international responsibility, especially given its long record of supporting armed groups in the region.

In a related context, the documents mentioned that Hamas postponed the operation in an attempt to convince its allies to participate, taking advantage of Israel's turbulent internal situation. This revelation raises serious questions about the competence of Israeli intelligence agencies and their ability to detect such threats.

Experts indicate that Hamas' avoidance of major confrontations with Israel since 2021 was part of a deception strategy to delude the Israeli side into believing it desired calm. It's worth noting that a year after the October 7 attack, the number of victims in the Gaza Strip has exceeded 42,000 deaths as a result of Israeli military operations.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.