The Israeli army and the Shin Bet security service announced on Tuesday the arrest of the head of Hamas's internal security apparatus in the Gaza Strip, during a joint operation carried out in the northern part of the Strip.
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A joint statement from the Israeli army and the Shin Bet read: "Earlier today (Tuesday), the IDF and the Shin Bet, under the leadership and supervision of the Shin Bet and the Southern Command, conducted a focused operation to eliminate Hamas threats in the northern Gaza Strip."
The statement added that, as part of the operation, Shin Bet special forces raided a building in Gaza City and arrested the head of Hamas's internal security apparatus for the entire Gaza Strip.
During the operation, "the Air Force carried out concentrated strikes targeting a number of military targets in the area, with the aim of removing threats to the forces. There were no casualties among the Israeli forces," according to the same statement.
According to the statement, the detainee had recently been working to "consolidate Hamas' control in the northern Gaza Strip" and to "advance plans to carry out attacks against Israeli army forces" operating in the "Yellow Line" area. He was transferred to Israel for further investigation by security services.
According to the statement, the operation aims to "remove threats, strike at Hamas' control in the area and thwart its plans to carry out operations against Israeli army forces and Israeli citizens."
The statement added that "security forces under the Southern Command are deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement, and will continue to work to eliminate any threat."
For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated the Shin Bet and the army on the arrest of the official, saying the operation was "daring," noting that the head of Hamas's internal security service was arrested "near his home in Gaza."
Netanyahu added that the detainee "was responsible for hiding and transferring Israeli prisoners, as well as for hiding senior Hamas officials, building the movement's strength, and attempting to rehabilitate its capabilities."
Netanyahu said the arrested official had recently worked on attempts to restore Hamas' control in Gaza, and on "deception regarding the disarmament of the Strip," and had also helped carry out armed operations against Israeli forces.
