Hamas Claims Shin Bet Used Deception, Drones in Gaza Operation

Hamas has offered its account of the Shin Bet operation that led to the capture of Moin al-Arabi, whom the organization identifies as the head of its internal security service in Gaza. According to the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Hamas claims the operation was prepared over two months, involving a cover story and the alleged use of tranquilizer ammunition. Hamas sources assert that Shin Bet agents posed as representatives of an international humanitarian organization, proposing the establishment of small food and drink stands in al-Arabi's neighborhood to gather intelligence and track his movements. The group's internal security service is responsible for counterintelligence and identifying suspected collaborators with Israel, a role al-Arabi oversaw.

Hamas alleges that Palestinian Arabs, including women posing as vendors, were used to collect information on homes and people's movements, with a significant portion of intelligence reportedly coming from Palestinian informants for Israel. Shin Bet special forces allegedly made brief appearances in the area multiple times before the raid to finalize intelligence gathering. On the day of the operation, additional personnel, including alleged Shin Bet operatives, arrived, and weapons were reportedly hidden in the market stalls, retrieved by the operatives before the raid and then concealed again afterward.

Hamas claims Shin Bet operatives attempted to arrest al-Arabi at his home, resulting in a firefight where his escort, two sons, and wife were wounded. A drone strike reportedly hit the house during the exchange. Al-Arabi, wounded, allegedly escaped through the back of the building, where another team was waiting. He was reportedly stopped with a stun grenade and detained while attempting to flee. Previously, Hamas sources attempted to downplay the significance of the capture, stating al-Arabi led only a specific internal security division, not the entire intelligence system.