Hamas launched a surprise coordinated attack on multiple strategic locations along the border with Israel, including the Erez crossing - a major checkpoint. Hamas then poured hundreds of militants through gaps cut in the border fence into Israel over the course of a few hours. Hamas used deceptive tactics like misleading information and restricted planning to conceal attack preparations, catching Israel off-guard with a large-scale coordinated offensive that penetrated deeper into Israeli territory. Hamas exploited gaps in Israel's border security through extensive planning and intelligence gathering, revealing Israel's over-reliance on technology without fully grasping Hamas' abilities.