An analysis in Israeli media reveals that Hamas militants successfully communicated and coordinated their attack during Operation Al-Aqsa using coded emojis via WhatsApp. The emojis, particularly hearts and stars, signified the time for the operation targeting Israeli military bases and settlements. This novel form of encrypted communication allowed them to evade intelligence detection successfully.

Israeli newspaper 'Israel Hayom' reported that despite the passage of 28 months since the attack, Israeli military intelligence had difficulty in detecting the operation before it occurred. The use of emojis as a means of communication was only discovered in the aftermath, during the analysis of phones seized during the conflict. This oversight highlights significant intelligence failures on the part of Israeli forces, revealing vulnerabilities in their surveillance and analytical capabilities, especially against evolving tactics from their adversaries.

The use of such simple, but effective communication methods led to confusion and ultimately facilitated the success of the operation by Hamas. The implications of this find raise questions about the adaptability of military networks and how they need to respond to new forms of covert communication in modern warfare. Ultimately, the event underscores the importance of innovative threat analysis in preventing future security breaches.