Hamas Leader's Ex-Bodyguard Granted UK Citizenship While Plotting Major Attack

The former bodyguard of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh received asylum and citizenship in the United Kingdom before being apprehended for allegedly planning a "huge terrorist attack" targeting Jews in Europe, according to a Sunday report by The Times of London. The individual was reportedly arrested in Egypt over a decade ago for operating a weapons and gold smuggling tunnel to Gaza. He subsequently relocated to the UK, obtaining refugee status and eventually citizenship, and worked as an IT consultant in suburban England, even as his Hamas activities were known to authorities, the report stated.

Ironically, he was not a top priority for British security services when he began planning the attack with other Hamas operatives in Europe. He was arrested in central London last November as part of an international effort, reportedly involving Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, to thwart a Hamas terror plot. This plot aimed to target Jewish community centers, Israeli diplomats, and pro-Israel rallies in Germany or Austria in October, marking the second anniversary of the October 7th massacre.

According to the indictment, he filmed himself declaring the plans were on behalf of Hamas's military wing, speaking to the camera while masked and armed, with a Hamas flag in the background. Additionally, weapons seized as part of the operation to thwart his plot belonged to Hamas operative Mohammed Na'im, whose father is Bassam Na'im, a senior figure in Hamas's political bureau in Gaza.