A deadly cascade: how secret Hamas attack orders were passed down at last minute

Plan drawn up by handful of leaders was unknown to men who would carry it out until morning of attacks on Israel a month ago

• Warning: viewers may find some photos distressing

The first orders went out before 4am: anyone who had been attending the regular training sessions and was not planning to attend dawn prayers at their usual mosques must go to pray.

An hour later, as the sky began to lighten over Gaza and the congregations began to disperse, new instructions were issued. These too were straightforward and passed mainly by word of mouth: bring your weapons and any ammunition you have and assemble at specific landmarks.

The aftermath of a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip in the Sderot area of southern Israel. Photograph: Ammar Awad/Reuters