JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Officials in one of the countries in the region recently advised counterparts in another country to show flexibility toward Israel and move forward with an agreement, not with the intention of preserving the deal over the long term, but rather as part of a strategy reportedly aimed at lowering Israel’s level of alert while preparations for a broader confrontation continued beneath the radar.

The details were first revealed Monday morning on “This Morning”, a program on Kan News’ Reshet Bet, citing knowledgeable sources. According to the report, during discussions between the sides, a clear recommendation was conveyed to move ahead with an agreement with Israel and subsequently violate it, while preparations for war continued in parallel.

According to information provided by a foreign source, the idea behind the recommendation was to adopt tactical flexibility, pursue a diplomatic track and create a sense of calm in Israel, while secretly continuing preparations for a significantly larger confrontation.

The report compared the approach to the conduct of Yahya Sinwar in the period leading up to October 7. Hamas had signaled for an extended period that it was interested in maintaining calm and reaching an arrangement, while simultaneously preparing for its surprise attack.

The report said the information has now been cleared for publication by Israeli military censorship after its release had been prohibited for several weeks. Due to censorship restrictions, the identities of the two countries involved cannot currently be disclosed.

The information raises concerns that a diplomatic agreement, if reached under such circumstances, could serve not only as a mechanism for maintaining calm, but also as a tool for lowering Israel’s level of alert while the other side continues its military preparations.

The report underscores the possibility that diplomatic overtures and apparent de-escalation could, in certain circumstances, be used as part of a broader strategy of deception rather than as a genuine effort to establish lasting stability.