Overview
- Israeli officials said Tuesday that Shin Bet and IDF forces arrested the head of Hamas’s internal security service and moved him to Israel for questioning.
- The military described the action as a targeted arrest meant to remove threats to security forces, while Gaza hospitals and medics reported four to five Palestinians killed, including children.
- Journalists and eyewitnesses described intense aerial activity with dozens of drones, multiple strikes and heavy gun battles around western Gaza City neighbourhoods such as Al-Katiba/Tel al-Hawa.
- Hamas disputed Israel’s account, calling the operation an abduction and saying the detainee was wounded and that his family suffered deaths or injuries, and independent verification of operational details remains limited.
- The incident highlights that the U.S.‑brokered October 2025 ceasefire has not halted targeted Israeli raids and raises renewed concerns about civilian protection and the strain on Gaza’s displaced families.