Israeli Special Forces Destroyed Vehicle After Hamas Commander's Capture

New details have emerged regarding the Israeli special forces operation that led to the capture of Moin Al-A'arbid, the commander of Hamas's internal security apparatus. According to sources speaking to the Arabic newspaper A-Sharq Al-Awsat, the Israeli forces operated in the area for at least two days prior to the operation, using a pickup truck and another vehicle disguised as carrying vegetables for reconnaissance.

During the raid on Al-A'arbid's villa, one group of Israeli soldiers breached the house while another provided security. Al-A'arbid's wife was killed in the ensuing firefight, and two of his sons and two bodyguards were seriously injured. Al-A'arbid himself sustained injuries. Eyewitnesses reported that the Israeli special forces withdrew under aerial cover, using a road and an unidentified route, and that a vehicle left behind was destroyed by missiles.

Sources suggest the destroyed vehicle was not part of the immediate assault team, indicating it had been present for at least two days for reconnaissance purposes. A Hamas source noted that an investigation is ongoing, particularly given the area's extensive security cameras, which may reveal further details.

Al-A'arbid was reportedly preparing for his son's wedding when the operation took place. He had previously survived an assassination attempt and a bombing in June, and had narrowly escaped capture at Shifa Hospital in March 2024. He was responsible for significant security matters within Hamas, including pursuing collaborators with Israel and tracking individuals associated with groups like ISIS, and had overseen operations to apprehend them. He was also involved in monitoring militias that emerged during the recent conflict and reportedly played a role in the arrest of dozens of collaborators following the discovery of an Israeli special forces unit in 2018.