Shin Bet Captures Hamas Security Chief in Gaza Raid

The Israel Defense Forces officially confirmed on Tuesday the arrest of Hamas's head of internal security for the Gaza Strip, publicly acknowledging for the first time that Shin Bet operatives led the operation to capture the senior terrorist.

According to a joint statement, the IDF and Shin Bet, Israel's domestic security agency, conducted a targeted operation earlier in the day "under the command and leadership of the Shin Bet and Southern Command" to eliminate threats from Hamas in northern Gaza. "As part of the operation, Shin Bet special forces raided a building in Gaza City and arrested the head of internal security for the Hamas terror organization across the entire Gaza Strip," the statement said.

During the operation, the Israeli Air Force "struck several military targets in the area in a focused manner to remove threats to the forces," the military added. Officials emphasized that no Israeli personnel were injured.

The IDF said the detained terrorist had recently been working to consolidate Hamas's control over northern Gaza and to advance terror operations against Israeli forces operating in the "Yellow Line" corridor area. Following his arrest, the suspect was transferred to Israeli territory for further interrogation by security forces.

"The operation was designed to remove threats, damage Hamas's control in the area, and thwart its plans to advance terror attacks against IDF forces and Israeli civilians," the statement said. "Security forces in the Southern Command are deployed throughout the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to act to remove any threat."