From the Liveblog of
Saturday, January 13, 2024
Israel: Hamas has terror network in Europe, run from Lebanon; planned attack on embassy in Sweden
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Hamas runs a network in Europe that is commanded from Lebanon, Israel says as its intelligence agencies release new details on the Gaza-based terror organization’s attempts to attack Israeli targets abroad.
Most of the Lebanon-based commanders, including Saleh Al-Arouri and Khalil Kharaz, were killed in recent airstrikes attributed to Israel, as it fights Hamas in the Gaza Strip and beyond.
The Hamas cells in Denmark, Germany and Holland, were arrested in December on suspicion of plotting to attack Jewish targets in Europe.
According to a statement released Saturday by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Mossad and Shin Bet intelligence agencies, together with foreign partners, have been able to build a “comprehensive and in-depth” picture of Hamas efforts to carry out attacks in Europe.
Israel has uncovered “details on theaters of operation, terror targets, and those involved in carrying out attacks – from Hamas commanders in Lebanon until the last of the attackers in the operational infrastructure,” the statement says.
The network was planning to attack Israel’s embassy in Sweden, buy UAVs, and utilize criminal organizations in Europe to support attacks, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
