IDF Intelligence Officers Allegedly Warned Gazans Before Strikes

Activists in the Gaza Strip have reportedly received phone calls from Israeli intelligence officers demanding they distance themselves from their families before being targeted for assassination, with threats that they would be attacked along with their relatives if they refused. This practice was reported Thursday by the newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, citing testimonies from family members and local sources who claim at least five such incidents have occurred in the past three months.

The latest case described in the report involves the killing of Muhammad al-Bayouk on Wednesday afternoon in a shelter for displaced persons in central Khan Younis, southern Gaza. According to the report, al-Bayouk received a call from a Shin Bet officer who presented him with a choice: remain with his family and be killed with them, or go to the roof alone and die there. Testimonies cited by the newspaper suggest al-Bayouk went to the roof of a room in the compound and was killed by a small missile fired from an Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle.

Some of al-Bayouk's family members contacted by the newspaper declined to comment, while others confirmed the account of the event. A relative present at the scene stated that al-Bayouk's aunt was severely injured when she tried to prevent him from going out alone after receiving the call.

Local sources speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat claimed similar incidents have happened in recent months, with one source noting widespread rumors of such occurrences. This source alleged that Hamas operatives who received such calls complied by distancing themselves from their families to prevent their relatives' deaths. The source also noted that all identified cases involved operatives linked to military activities, distinguishing them from prominent commanders and field leaders who, according to the source, were eliminated in broader strikes using multiple missiles and aircraft, sometimes causing significant civilian casualties.

The report also noted that the use of unmanned aerial vehicles attacking Hamas operatives with small bombs and missiles has led to a relative decrease in civilian casualties. However, another local source disputed this, claiming civilians continue to be killed in strikes aimed at eliminating operatives and in other attacks. This source pointed to a Wednesday strike in southern Mawasi Khan Younis that allegedly hit government offices monitoring goods entering the Strip, resulting in the deaths of civilians, employees, and merchant representatives. The IDF did not respond to the report.