Israel has captured Hamas’s spy chief in a daring daylight raid in Gaza.
While initial media reports claimed that a local militia hostile to Hamas carried out the ground operation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday evening confirmed that the raid was conducted by special forces belonging to the Shin Bet security agency:
As part of the operation, ISA special forces entered a structure in the Gaza City area and apprehended the head of Hamas’ Internal Security in the Gaza Strip.During the operation, the Israeli Air Force struck several targets in the area in order to remove threats to the forces. No IDF injuries were reported.The apprehended terrorist has recently worked to consolidate the Hamas terrorist organization’s control over the northern Gaza Strip and to advance terrorist attacks against IDF troops deployed in the area of the Yellow Line.
Muin al-Arabid, who ran the terrorist group’s intelligence activities, was wounded during his capture and is now in Israeli custody, official sources confirm. “Defense Minister Israel Katz said al-Arabid oversaw counterintelligence and intelligence activity for Hamas,” Israel’s Ynetnews reported. “Palestinian reports identified him as a senior official in the organization’s internal security apparatus in the Gaza district.”
The spy chief commanded an “apparatus” that “plays a central role in Hamas’ efforts to detect espionage and identify Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel,” the news outlet added.
The Israel National News /Arutz Sheva reported:
Minister of Defense Israel Katz confirmed on Tuesday that a senior Hamas terrorist was arrested in the Gaza Strip, following hours of local reports regarding unusual activity, exchanges of gunfire, and intense airstrikes in western Gaza City. According to Gazan reports, the individual who was arrested is the head of Hamas’s general security apparatus.”A short time ago, a senior Hamas terrorist was arrested, and this is exactly our policy: we don’t wait for threats; rather, we pursue the Hamas terrorists, eliminate them, and destroy their terrorist infrastructure,” Katz said during a visit to Netiv Ha’asara marking the first day of the school year. According to Katz, the operation was ongoing during his visit to the community.Katz’s announcement follows local reports throughout the morning of intense strikes and exchanges of gunfire in western Gaza City. According to the reports, at least eight individuals were killed in strikes in the area.According to witnesses on the ground, the gun battles are focused around the American Hospital. At the same time, there are reports of intense UAV activity over the area and strikes on several targets.Eyewitnesses reported that special forces broke cover after sneaking into western Gaza City. According to witnesses, the forces used a bus and motorcycles and ran into an ambush while attempting to enter a cafeteria near a residence for UN staff. As a result, heavy exchanges of fire ensued.It was further reported that the forces are operating under heavy air support. According to the reports, the airstrikes in the area were intended to secure the forces’ withdrawal.
In recent days, the Israeli military carried out multiple targeted strikes, eliminating several Gaza-based commanders and terrorist fighters.
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