Former Hamas Guard Granted UK Citizenship, Arrested in Terror Plot

A former bodyguard for Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, identified only as "Mr. X" by the British press, has been granted asylum and subsequently British citizenship, despite his known ties to the terrorist organization. The Sunday Times revealed that "Mr. X" served in Haniyeh's personal security detail from at least 2006. His past also includes an arrest in Egypt between 2009 and 2012 for involvement with a tunnel used for smuggling weapons and gold into Gaza.

Despite this history, "Mr. X" applied for asylum in the UK in 2015. British authorities were reportedly aware of his previous role with Hamas and his arrest in Egypt when they granted him refugee status and later citizenship. He settled in a London suburb with his family, working as an IT consultant and maintaining a seemingly ordinary life, though he reportedly changed his name multiple times and participated in anti-Israel demonstrations.

According to the investigation, "Mr. X" remained a "valuable senior asset" for Hamas, using his British passport to travel to Turkey and Qatar for meetings with Hamas officials. He is alleged to have become a key figure in planning attacks against Jewish community centers and Israeli diplomats in Germany and Austria, with attacks potentially timed for the second anniversary of the October 7th events.

An indictment, previously reported by German newspaper Bild, details that in July 2025, the suspect received five pistols, ammunition, masks, and gloves in Berlin, which he transported to Vienna for storage. The plot involved seven suspects in total, with security services from Germany, Austria, Denmark, and the UK participating in the investigation. Mossad provided crucial information that led to the uncovering of the alleged conspiracy.

Investigators also found a Kalashnikov rifle and ammunition. "Mr. X" allegedly recorded a video in a mask, holding a weapon, and in front of a Hamas flag, stating the planned attack was an act of revenge for Hamas's military wing. He was arrested in central London in November 2025 by the UK's National Crime Agency, after Israeli and German intelligence had already exposed the plot. Germany is seeking his extradition to face charges related to the terror plot and weapons smuggling. A British court initially imposed a 100-year gag order on his name, but this was recently lifted following The Sunday Times's inquiry.

The Times of Israel reported that "Mr. X" is the son of a senior Hamas official, identified by Mossad as a Hamas operative named Muhammad Naim, whose father is Basem Naim, a high-ranking Hamas political bureau official in Gaza. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has questioned how an individual with such a background could pass UK Home Office vetting and obtain citizenship.