20 hrs ago
Israel Says Forces Captured Hamas Security Chief in Gaza
Israel says its special forces captured an important Hamas security official in Gaza City.
The Israeli military says the man was the head of Hamas’s internal security service in Gaza.
Israeli media named him Muein al-Arabid, while some Palestinian reports used the name Moin Al-Arabeed.
Israel says he was taken to Israel for questioning.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the man helped hide and move Israeli hostages.
Palestinian sources say the operation against the senior official failed and that a less senior official was taken instead.
Israeli strikes and gunfire during the raid killed Palestinians, including children and a woman, according to Palestinian officials.
The fighting happened even though a U.S.-backed ceasefire is in place.
Both sides gave different accounts of the raid and its consequences.
Israel said Shin Bet and military forces captured Hamas’s Gaza internal security chief during a Tuesday raid.
Israeli officials said the unnamed target, identified by Israeli media as Muein al-Arabid, was taken to Israel for questioning.
Palestinian officials reported four deaths in western Gaza City, including children and a woman, during Israeli strikes supporting the operation.
Palestinian sources disputed Israel’s account, saying the mission was thwarted and that a lower-ranking security official was abducted instead.
The raid occurred despite a U.S.-backed ceasefire; Palestinian officials reported more than 1,300 deaths since it began, while Israel reported four or five military deaths and one civilian-contractor death.
- Who
- Israeli special forces, Shin Bet, the Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian health and security officials.
- What
- Israel said it captured Hamas’s Gaza internal security chief in a ground raid, while Palestinian sources disputed the capture and reported Palestinian deaths.
- Where
- Western Gaza City, including the Katiba area, with additional deaths reported in central Gaza and Jabalia.
- When
- Tuesday; one Reuters report dated the event September 1, while the articles do not provide a consistent calendar-year context.
- Why
- Israel said the operation targeted a Hamas official who helped consolidate Hamas control in northern Gaza and advance attacks against Israeli troops; Netanyahu also said he helped conceal and transport Israeli hostages.
Israeli account
Palestinian and Hamas account
Whether the senior official was captured
Israeli account
Israel said its special forces captured Hamas’s internal security chief, identified by Israeli media as Muein al-Arabid, and took him to Israel for questioning.
Palestinian and Hamas account
Palestinian security sources said the operation against the prominent Hamas figure was thwarted and that a lower-ranking security official was abducted instead.
Purpose of the raid
Israeli account
The Israeli military and Shin Bet said the target had helped consolidate Hamas’s control over northern Gaza and advance attacks against Israeli troops. Netanyahu also linked him to concealing and transporting Israeli hostages.
Palestinian and Hamas account
Hamas condemned the raid as criminal, said Israel was violating the ceasefire, and contacted mediators and Nickolay Mladenov for pressure on Israel.
Civilian impact and ceasefire
Israeli account
Israel said air strikes were conducted to remove threats to its forces during the ground operation and said no soldiers were injured.
Palestinian and Hamas account
Palestinian officials reported four deaths in western Gaza City and two additional deaths elsewhere, while witnesses described heavy gunfire and multiple strikes. Hamas said the attacks undermined the ceasefire.
Key facts
- Reported target
- Israeli officials identified the captured figure as Muein al-Arabid, described as the head of Hamas’s internal security apparatus in Gaza.
- Israeli account
- The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet said special forces captured the target and transferred him to Israel for questioning.
- Netanyahu’s claim
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the target was responsible for concealing and transporting Israeli hostages captured during the October 7, 2023 attack.
- Reported Gaza City toll
- Palestinian health and civil-defense officials reported four people killed in western Gaza City, including children and a woman.
- Competing Palestinian account
- Gaza security sources said the mission against the prominent Hamas figure was thwarted and that a lower-ranking security official was abducted instead.
- Additional reported deaths
- Two further Palestinian deaths were reported in central Gaza and Jabalia, including a child and a civil-defense worker.
- Ceasefire tolls
- Palestinian officials reported more than 1,300 deaths since the ceasefire began, while the Israeli military reported four or five military deaths and one civilian-contractor death during the same period.
Quotes
Wafika al-Helou
An eyewitness who described the Israeli strikes in western Gaza City to AFP
“A jeep stopped in the middle of the street and started firing indiscriminately left and right. It carried on firing at us like rain for more than 15 minutes.”
NDTV
Sources
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