JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that the Hamas commander captured earlier in the day in Gaza City headed the terror group’s internal security apparatus.
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The official was identified as Muein al-Arabid.
“I commend the Shin Bet and the IDF, who in a bold operation arrested today the head of Hamas’s internal security apparatus near his home in Gaza,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
Netanyahu described al-Arabid as “one of Hamas’s most senior leaders” who was responsible for hiding and moving Israeli hostages, concealing senior Hamas officials, building up the group’s forces, and attempting to restore its capabilities.
“Recently, he was engaged in efforts to restore Hamas’s governance in Gaza, in deception regarding the issue of demilitarizing the Strip, and assisted in carrying out terror attacks against our forces and our civilians,” the prime minister said.
Defense Minister Israel Katz earlier confirmed that Israeli forces had arrested a senior Hamas operative during operations in Gaza. Israeli officials identified the detainee as the head of Hamas’s General Security Apparatus.
Netanyahu added that Israel “will continue to pursue all Hamas leaders and everyone who took part in the October 7 massacre.”
The operation took place near al-Arabid’s home in Gaza City and was accompanied by airstrikes, according to Israeli and Palestinian reports. Israeli officials said there were no Israeli casualties. Palestinian sources reported casualties from the accompanying strikes, though accounts of the raid itself differed.
kishmo kein hu – A RABID