Israeli forces captured a senior Hamas figure during a ground operation in Gaza on Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Palestinian health officials reported that six people were killed in separate Israeli operations across the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu said the captured figure headed Hamas’s internal security apparatus in Gaza. Israeli media identified him as Muein al-Arabid. The Israeli military and Shin Bet said the man recently worked to strengthen Hamas control over northern Gaza.
They also accused him of advancing attacks against Israeli forces. Authorities said they transferred him to Israel for further questioning.
Israeli Forces Launch Gaza Operation
The Israeli military said its forces conducted additional strikes alongside the ground operation.
According to the military, the strikes targeted several locations to eliminate threats facing Israeli troops. An Israeli-allied militia inside Gaza also participated in the operation, according to a Gaza security source.
Witnesses reported around a dozen strikes in western Gaza City on Tuesday morning.
Gaza’s civil defence agency said three children and a woman were killed in the attacks.
Palestinian media identified the woman as al-Arabid’s wife. Al-Shifa Hospital confirmed the reported death toll.
Footage from the aftermath showed two children’s bodies wrapped in shrouds.
Witnesses also described intense gunfire and drone activity during the operation. Wafika al-Helou described the scene as terrifying and unbearable. She said gunfire continued for more than 15 minutes.
Another witness, Mutaz Abu Asr, reported several strikes within minutes, alongside gunfire and drones.
Hamas Condemns Israeli Operation
A Gaza security source claimed the Israeli mission against the senior Hamas figure had been thwarted. The source said Israeli special forces withdrew on motorcycles while receiving cover from Israeli forces. Another security source said Israeli forces abducted a lower-ranking security official who was present at the scene.
Hamas condemned what it called a “criminal operation” and said it contacted ceasefire mediators. The group also said it communicated with Nickolay Mladenov, who serves as a senior representative under the US-backed Gaza peace framework.
Meanwhile, Israeli fire killed two additional people in central Gaza, including a girl, according to Al-Aqsa Hospital. The civil defence agency confirmed those deaths.
Gaza Violence Continues Despite Ceasefire
The latest violence highlights the fragile situation in Gaza despite the US-backed ceasefire. Israeli forces have continued targeting Palestinians they identify as militants since the truce began.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, Israeli operations have killed at least 1,326 people since the ceasefire took effect. The ministry operates under Hamas authorities, while the United Nations considers its casualty figures reliable. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has reported five deaths among its forces during the same period.
One civilian contractor has also reportedly died since the ceasefire began.
