Israel captures top Hamas commander in Gaza strike, defense minister says
Israeli Forces Capture Senior Hamas Security Leader in Gaza Raid
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Monday that the Israel Defense Forces apprehended the head of Hamas's general security apparatus during an operation deep inside Gaza, a strike that marks another notable blow to the militant group's leadership at a time when it is already struggling to rebuild its ranks.
An Israeli security official identified the detained figure as Mu'in al-Arabid, who leads Hamas's General Security Apparatus. According to the official, al-Arabid was taken into custody during an Israeli incursion that penetrated far into Hamas-controlled territory. The IDF carried out airstrikes to cover the extraction of its forces. No Israeli soldiers were reported killed or wounded in the operation.
"A short time ago, a senior Hamas terrorist was arrested, and this is our policy: We do not wait for threats. Instead, we pursue Hamas terrorists, thwart them, and destroy their terrorist infrastructure," Katz said in a statement. He described what he called an "unprecedented security zone" built by Israeli forces inside Gaza, adding that the military would remain in the territory until it was fully demilitarized.
"Nearly 70% of the Gaza Strip has been destroyed, with no residents, no tunnels, and no homes, and the IDF controls the territory," Katz said. "We are not leaving Gaza until the Strip is demilitarized, Hamas is disarmed, and all terrorist tunnels are destroyed. Even after that, the IDF will remain in Gaza along defensive lines and ensure the security of the western Negev communities."
The raid comes against the backdrop of renewed diplomatic pressure from Washington. In August, the Trump administration demanded that Hamas disarm and relinquish control of Gaza. Last month, Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and a key architect of U.S. Middle East policy, traveled to Israel and suggested that the IDF could count on American backing if the militant group failed to follow through on its commitments.
"If they don't follow through now on their commitment, everyone will see that they're not genuine about peace, and then Israel will have a lot more support from the U.S. and others to go and finish the job in the appropriate way," Kushner told Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst.
Kushner's warning followed a rare face-to-face meeting with Hamas representatives in Egypt, only his second known encounter with the group. He struck a cautiously skeptical tone afterward, acknowledging the difficulty of trusting an organization responsible for the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel while leaving the door open to diplomacy.
"They said all the right things, but obviously, it's very, very hard to trust, you know, a terrorist organization that committed these terrible atrocities," Kushner said. "But we had a very cordial meeting, and they said all the right things, and so we're going to give them a chance to perform."
Pressed on what would determine whether Hamas lived up to its pledges, Kushner pointed to deeds rather than words. "It's going to have to be based on actions and steps, and I hope it will be true," he said.
The proposal under discussion is being driven by a U.S.-led body known as the Board of Peace. The framework envisions a phased ceasefire, the demilitarization of Gaza, a staged Israeli troop withdrawal, the installation of a Palestinian technocratic government, and a major international reconstruction effort.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly rejected the plan in its current form, insisting that no withdrawal can occur until Hamas is "genuinely disarmed." His stance underscores the deep disagreement between Israel and some of its international partners over the conditions and timing of any pullback.
The arrest of al-Arabid reflects a broader pattern Israeli officials have described in recent weeks: a sustained campaign targeting Hamas's senior leadership, particularly figures tied to the planning and execution of the October 7 assault. Israeli authorities have said the group is finding it increasingly difficult to fill its top ranks as operations continue.
Katz's vow that Israel would respond harshly to any attempt to circumvent the new security zone, including through aerial launches, signals that military officials anticipate continued confrontations even if a political deal eventually takes shape. For now, the capture of one of Hamas's most senior security chiefs offers a symbolic and operational victory for the IDF, though it remains unclear how the arrest will affect the fragile diplomacy surrounding Gaza's future.