Abu Ali Express issued a correction identifying Mua'in al-Arabid, commander of Hamas's internal security mechanism, as the senior official captured by Israeli forces in Gaza this morning.
Abu Ali Express has corrected earlier reports to confirm that the senior Hamas official captured by Israeli forces in Gaza early Tuesday is Mua'in al-Arabid, the commander of the terror group's internal security mechanism. The correction resolves confusion that arose from initial reports regarding the detainee's identity.
The story unfolded rapidly around 12:42 Jerusalem time. Defense Minister Israel Katz first announced the capture of a senior Hamas operative, stating the operation involved an Israeli-backed Palestinian militia raid with Israeli air support in Gaza City. Shortly after, The Zioneer reported that Israeli commandos had captured Hamas's internal security chief in a deep Gaza raid, and that the unit was discovered and required massive air support to withdraw safely. Within the same hour, Katz confirmed the capture as a joint IDF and anti-Hamas syndicate operation, and Gazan sources identified the captive as Mua'in al-Arabid. Gazan sources also reported that al-Arabid's wife was wounded in the operation and later died of her injuries.
The capture of al-Arabid follows a pattern of Israeli operations targeting Hamas's internal security leadership. As The Zioneer reported on July 27, the IDF and Shin Bet confirmed the elimination of Wael Ladawi, the commander of Hamas's internal security in the central Gaza camps. Mohammed Marwan Mohammed Salem, head of military security for the Central Jabaliya Battalion, was also eliminated in July. These operations are part of a sustained campaign to dismantle Hamas's command and control capabilities in the Gaza Strip.
The exact circumstances of al-Arabid's capture, his current status, and whether additional senior operatives were involved remain under a security embargo, with no further details released.
6 developments
- StrongCaptured Hamas internal security chief sedated, on ventilator after condition deteriorates
- DevelopingSocial media reports arrest of wanted militant in Gaza
- DevelopingReport: Armed gang members attempted to kidnap a Hamas operative in Gaza, but Hamas operatives stopped one suspect
- StrongIDF special forces arrested senior Hamas police officer in Khan Younis overnight
Source and signal
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