Israeli special forces captured Moin Al-Arabeed, the head of Hamas’ internal security service, during a joint military and Shin Bet operation in Gaza City on Tuesday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the arrest as a daring operation
and stated that Al-Arabeed was taken into custody near his home before being transferred to Israel for questioning.
Allegations Against Al-Arabeed
Israeli authorities have identified Al-Arabeed as one of the most senior Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Netanyahu accused him of being responsible for the concealment and transportation of Israeli hostages captured during the October 7, 2023 attack. Additionally, Israeli officials alleged that Al-Arabeed worked to shelter senior Hamas figures and attempted to restore the organization’s governance and operational capabilities within the enclave.
The Israeli military and Shin Bet further claimed that Al-Arabeed had been working to consolidate Hamas’ control over northern Gaza and facilitate attacks against Israeli forces, specifically those stationed near the Yellow Line. Defense Minister Isarel Katz confirmed the arrest, stating that Israel will continue to pursue Hamas leaders and destroy terror infrastructures until the Strip is demilitarized and its tunnels are destroyed.
Casualties and Raid Details
The operation took place in a Hamas-controlled area of Gaza City. To protect ground troops and remove threats,
the Israeli Air Force carried out strikes in the vicinity. Witnesses reported that warplanes fired at least 12 missiles near the Katiba area in western Gaza City, a location crowded with displaced families. While the Israeli military reported no injuries to its soldiers, Palestinian medics stated that at least four people, including two children, were killed and several others wounded in these strikes.
The Hamas-run Gaza interior ministry confirmed that Moin Mohammed Al-Arabeed was injured and captured during the raid. The ministry further reported that Al-Arabeed’s wife was killed and some of his children were injured in the operation. Other reported deaths on Tuesday included a child killed by Israeli fire in central Gaza and a civil defence service member killed by a strike in Jabalia, bringing the total Palestinian death toll for the day to six.
Conflicting Accounts of the Operation
Hamas has disputed the Israeli narrative of the event. A Gaza security source told AFP that Al-Arabeed was not involved in holding hostages or military operations against Israel, claiming instead that his role involved combating Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel. Ismail al-Thawabta, a spokesman for the Hamas-run government media office, alleged that the Israeli special forces unit was “exposed” during the mission and claimed that several members of the unit were killed, contradicting the IDF’s report of no casualties.
Hamas issued a statement describing the raid in a densely populated area as a “serious crime” and a deliberate disregard for the lives of civilians.
Ceasefire Status and Diplomatic Tension
The raid occurred despite a U.S.-backed ceasefire that took effect in October 2025. While this agreement halted large-scale fighting, Israeli strikes have continued. According to Gaza health officials, more than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began; the Israeli military stated that four Israeli soldiers were killed by militant attacks during the same period.
In response to the raid, Hamas stated it has contacted mediators and Nickolay Mladenov, the U.S.-backed Board of Peace envoy for Gaza, urging them to pressure Israel. Hamas warned that such attacks are undermining the ceasefire agreement and the broader U.S. plan to end the war, which includes the disarmament of Hamas and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
