Two recent reports have shed light on the extent of US intelligence sharing with Israel since October 7. Both the CIA and Air Force have likely provided Israel with information to target Hamas collected from satellites and drones. 

The New York Times reports that in the days following the Hamas attack on southern Israel, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan ordered the creation of a CIA task force to collect intelligence on the Gaza-based organization. The US stepped up drone fights to collect more communications between Hamas members. 

“It is not clear how valuable the information has been to Israel, though none of the most senior leaders of Hamas has been captured or killed,” the Times explains. 

Ken Klippenstein and Matthew Petti, writing at the Intercept, provided further details on the intelligence sharing with Israel. “For the first time in US history, the Biden administration has been flying surveillance drone missions over Gaza since at least early November.” The authors write, “On November 21, the Air Force issued deployment guidelines for officers. Experts say that a team of targeting officers like this would be used to provide satellite intelligence to the Israelis for the purpose of offensive targeting.”

Over three months, Israel has conducted ruthless military operations that have left at least 24,000 dead, including 10,000 children. Israel has intentionally destroyed hospitals, schools, water treatment facilities, and banks to “create a shock” in the Gazan society. 

Sharing intelligence and providing weapons to Israel as it commits war crimes in Gaza makes the US official co-conspirators in those atrocities, and violates US law. The Leahy laws prevent the US from providing military assistance to units committing war crimes. South Africa has charged Israel with genocide at the International Court of Justice. 

Part of the Israeli operations has involved targeted lower-level Hamas members. The Times claims that the CIA intelligence sharing is limited to upper-level Hamas members. Israel claims the goal of its operations in Gaza is to eliminate Hamas. 

The article adds that US officials do not believe targeting low-level Hamas fighters is an effective strategy. “Some American officials believe targeting low-level Hamas members is misguided because they can be easily replaced and because of the unwarranted risk to civilians.” The article continues, “They have also said the Israeli military bombing campaign in Gaza could end up replenishing Hamas’s bench of fighters.”

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has increased funding to surveil Hamas in the future. “Before the October 7 attack, Hamas was a level four priority, meaning few resources were dedicated to collecting intelligence on the group. Since then, the [ODNI] has raised Hamas to a level two priority, according to US officials.” The Times adds, “Raising the priority level provides additional funding for intelligence collection and most likely increases the range and volume of information that the CIA tries to collect on Hamas.” Level one priorities are state actors such as Russia and China.