Muein al-Arabid, the chief of Hamas’s internal security apparatus, was captured by Israeli-backed forces during a special ground operation in western Gaza City. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the capture, stating that al-Arabid is now in Israeli custody for interrogation and trial.
The operation was executed under the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Southern Command. Local Palestinian militias allied with Israel carried out the initial raid near al-Arabid's home in the al-Katiba area of Gaza City. Gunbattles erupted once the ground unit was compromised by Hamas fighters. The IDF provided heavy aerial cover, utilizing over 10 warplanes and Zik unmanned aircraft to conduct strikes in the Rimal and al-Katiba neighborhoods, allowing the forces to extract al-Arabid.
Palestinian security and medical sources reported that al-Arabid’s wife was killed during the raid. The subsequent Israeli airstrikes caused civilian casualties, reportedly killing at least three others, including two children.
Al-Arabid himself was wounded before being successfully transferred into Israel. Officials of Mossad identified al-Arabid as one of Hamas’s most senior remaining operational leaders. He assumed leadership of the internal security apparatus at the genocide against Jews on October 7, 2023.
Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that al-Arabid was "heavily involved in hiding and moving Israeli hostages", including the Portuguese ones, "as well as concealing other top Hamas officials".
Al-Arabid faces prosecution in Israel. This raid directly aligns with a law passed by the Knesset allowing public trials and the death penalty for senior Hamas operatives involved in the October 7th massacres and hostage-taking campaigns.
