Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday announced that Israeli forces had captured a senior Hamas figure during an operation in Gaza.
According to Netanyahu, the individual was the head of Hamas’s internal security apparatus in the Gaza Strip. Israeli media identified the detainee as Muein al-Arabid, who was described as a senior figure within the organisation.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet said in a joint statement that special forces carried out the operation and subsequently transferred al-Arabid to Israel for questioning. Israeli authorities alleged that he had recently been involved in efforts to strengthen Hamas's control over northern Gaza and advance attacks against Israeli troops.
Netanyahu also said al-Arabid was among Hamas's senior leaders and accused him of helping hide and move Israeli hostages, protecting senior Hamas officials and attempting to rebuild the group's capabilities. These claims were made by Israeli authorities and have not been independently verified.
The operation was accompanied by Israeli air and ground activity in the area. The Israeli military said several targets were struck to remove threats to its forces and reported that no Israeli troops were injured.
Palestinian health and civil defence officials, meanwhile, reported deaths following heavy strikes in western Gaza City. The reported casualties included children, according to Palestinian sources cited by AFP.
Hamas condemned the operation and described it as a serious violation, while reports from Gaza suggested that the mission involved Israeli-aligned forces and intense military support.
The development comes despite a US-backed ceasefire that took effect in October 2025. The truce has significantly reduced large-scale fighting but has not completely stopped Israeli strikes and clashes in Gaza. Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the ceasefire.
