GAZA, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli force kidnapped the head of Hamas' internal security service and killed his wife during a special operation west of Gaza City on Tuesday, a Palestinian security source said.
The source, who declined to be named, told Xinhua that the Israeli force kidnapped Moein al-Arabeed, head of Hamas' internal security service, and killed his wife during the operation.
The source said the Israeli army provided cover fire to facilitate the withdrawal of the infiltrating force after clashes broke out between Palestinian faction gunmen and the special force, adding that the shelling caused civilian casualties.
Al-Arabeed assumed the position of head of Hamas' internal security service at the start of the war on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the source.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that a senior Hamas official had been detained in Gaza and vowed that Israeli forces would remain in the enclave even after Hamas was disarmed and its tunnels destroyed.
Hamas has not yet commented on the incident.
Earlier on Tuesday, Palestinian medical sources reported that two children and a woman were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes on the al-Katiba area west of Gaza City, coinciding with the entry of a special forces unit into the area, according to Palestinian sources.
Gaza's health authorities said 1,326 Palestinians had been killed and 4,398 wounded since a ceasefire was announced in October 2025. ■
