October 7 terrorists?
Police, Shin Bet Clash Over Rahat Arrests
After three Gazans were arrested in Rahat, differing accounts from Israel Police and the Shin Bet have led to a clash between them. The real story is still developing.
A public dispute has erupted between Israel Police and the Shin Bet following the arrest of three Gaza residents in the southern city of Rahat, after ammunition and suspected stolen military equipment were found in their possession.
The three suspects were arrested Saturday night during a joint operation by police detectives and Border Police forces. Police initially announced that the men had infiltrated Israel during the Hamas-led October 7 massacre and later found work in Rahat. During searches at the site, officers seized military ammunition, including dozens of live rounds.
The suspects were transferred to the Shin Bet for further interrogation.
On Sunday morning, however, Shin Bet officials pushed back on the police account, stating that there is no indication the three men crossed into Israel during the October 7 attack. According to the Shin Bet, the suspects were more likely Gaza residents who had entered Israel previously with work permits and remained illegally after the outbreak of the war.
Israel Police responded sharply, issuing an unusually forceful statement rejecting the Shin Bet’s version.
“Any attempt to undermine the credibility of Israel Police does not contribute to public security,” police said. “Such attempts also serve to cover up failure. The arrests were carried out as part of Operation New Order, following approval of arrest plans based on a shared intelligence picture with the Shin Bet.”
Police reiterated that the suspects had entered Israel “under the cover of the October 7 terrorist attack” and said they would continue operating “with determination and in cooperation with all security bodies” to protect public safety.
The exchange highlights rare public friction between Israel’s security agencies amid heightened sensitivity surrounding infiltrations and internal security failures since October 7.
Rahat has previously been the site of arrests involving Gazans who entered Israel during the attack. In November 2023, two Hamas operatives who infiltrated Israel on October 7 were captured in the city during an undercover Border Police operation.