Israeli security boss sends warning to Hamas members overseas
The head of a key Israeli security agency sent out a harsh warning to members of Hamas in Turkey, Lebanon and Qatar, reports Reuters.
Domestic security agency, Shin Bet’s chief, Ronen Bar promised to hunt down every member of the militant group living overseas.
Hamas, who have controlled Gaza since the ousting of the Palestinian Authority in the enclave in 2007, continue to maintain a meaningful presence in Lebanon as well as key capital cities such as Doha and Cairo.
Numerous key militant leaders are based in neighbouring countries or in Palestinian territories but away from the Gaza Strip.
In a clip aired by Israel’s public broadcaster Kan on December 3, Bar can be heard boasting, “The cabinet has set us a goal, in street talk, to eliminate Hamas. We will do this everywhere, in Gaza, in the West Bank, in Lebanon, in Turkey, in Qatar. It will take a few years but we will be there to do it”.
Israeli forces have acted abhorrently since Hamas’ shock rampage in Israel south, killing over 15,000 Gazans and attacks on those living in the West Bank have risen significantly.
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The Shin Bet head was back in the spotlight after not speaking publicly since October 7, also taking responsibility for the ease in which the Palestinian militants entered Israel and committed their attacks.
“The security responsibility is ours. Our duty is to provide both security and a sense of security. Unfortunately on 7 October we were unable to do it,” Bar said.
At the end of October, the country’s far-right Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took a jab at intelligence chiefs who did not warn him of Hamas’ plans prior to their assault.
On October 29 he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “At no time and no stage was a warning given to Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding war intentions of Hamas. On the contrary, all security officials, including the head of army intelligence and the head of the Shin Bet, estimated that Hamas was deterred and interested in an arrangement”, before deleting the post shortly after.
The media advisor to Hamas’ political bureau showed little concern regarding Bar’s warning.
In a brief response, Taher Al-Nono stressed that, “The threats do not frighten any of the movement’s leaders.”
Reuters/Kan
