A former bodyguard of late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was reportedly granted asylum and later British citizenship, according to a report by The Zioneer Intelligence Desk. The individual was subsequently arrested on suspicion of involvement in an alleged Hamas plot targeting Jews in Europe. The report raises questions about the UK's asylum and citizenship vetting processes for individuals with terrorist ties.
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk reports that a former personal bodyguard of late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was granted UK asylum and later British citizenship, before being arrested on suspicion of involvement in an alleged Hamas plot to attack Jewish communities in Europe. The report adds new details to a story that has unfolded throughout Sunday, revealing that both the bodyguard and his son exploited the UK asylum system while allegedly advancing Hamas terror objectives.
Earlier Sunday, a Sunday Times investigation first revealed that the son of a senior Hamas official who served as Haniyeh's bodyguard had received UK asylum in 2015 and later citizenship, and was arrested in London in November 2025 on charges of orchestrating weapons transfers for attacks around the second anniversary of the October 7 massacre. Subsequent reports from Israel Hayom and i24NEWS identified the father — the former bodyguard himself — as also holding British citizenship and being suspected of planning a "huge terror attack" against Jewish targets in Europe. The Zioneer earlier published an article on the son's case at 11:01 Jerusalem time Sunday.
The Zioneer's latest report, drawing on investigative materials, underscores that the father, whose name has not been disclosed, served as a close security aide to Haniyeh before the terror leader's assassination in August 2024. The granting of asylum and citizenship to an individual with apparent ties to a proscribed terrorist organization raises serious questions about UK vetting procedures. As The Zioneer has previously reported, the UK has faced multiple cases of Hamas-associated individuals exploiting its asylum system, including a foiled plot against an Israeli cruise ship near Greece in July 2026.
The British government has not yet commented on the latest revelations. The Zioneer continues to monitor the case.
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