Arrests have been made in three European countries after Hamas plot for terror attacks in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe uncovered, the Mossad and Shin Bet said
Published in Haaretz (with Jonathan Lis): https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-01-13/ty-article/.premium/hamas-planned-attacks-on-targets-abroad-israeli-agencies-say/0000018d-0432-dd94-a9cd-46fe9dad0000
Three European countries arrested suspects allegedly involved in plans by Hamas to attack Israeli and Jewish targets abroad in December, the Mossad spy agency and Shin Bet security service said Saturday.
According to the agencies' statement, the arrests in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands are part of an ongoing intelligence investigation in various countries.
It said that Hamas tried to plan attacks on targets in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, commanded by top Hamas leaders Saleh al-Arouri, Samir Findi Abu Amer, and Azzam Al-Aqraa Abu Ammar – all killed in a bombing in Beirut earlier this month. The arrests were made on December 14, and legal proceedings continue.
The planned targets included the Israeli Embassy in Sweden, the agencies said. While other European embassies were open and functioning normally in the weeks following the outbreak of the war, the embassy in Stockholm was completely closed, very strict restrictions were imposed on the movement and work of Israeli diplomats in the country, and consular services were not provided to Israelis living in Sweden except in very urgent cases.
According to the Mossad and Shin Bet, Hamas' activity in Europe included acquiring drones and running street gangs. The statement further noted that Khalil Harraz, the former deputy commander of Hamas' military wing in Lebanon, oversaw the activity in Europe.
He was killed in November 2023 in an attack attributed to Israel in southern Lebanon. Harraz allegedly used Hamas collaborators in Europe and members of the organized crime group LFT – Loyal to Familia – which was outlawed in Denmark in 2021.
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