Israel’s Mossad intelligence organization has officially claimed that Hamas has been building an operational network across Europe via covert cells.
In a statement, the agency stated that cooperation with European security services resulted in the discovery of weapons, the arrest of suspects, and the prevention of planned assaults.
According to the statement, European partners helped foil attacks against Israeli and Jewish communities. Several suspects were caught as a consequence of joint operations in countries such as Germany and Austria, as well as the recovery of weapon caches ready for use “on command” against civilians.
One of the important discoveries mentioned by investigators occurred in Vienna last September. Austria’s DSN security service discovered a weapons cache involving handguns and explosive materials and later linked it to Mohammad Naim, the son of top Hamas political bureau officer Bassem Naim, who is connected to Khalil al-Hayya, a prominent Hamas leader in Gaza.
Mossad accused Hamas leadership
The Mossad accused Hamas leadership overseas of covertly aiding these operations. “The involvement of the organisation’s leadership in Qatar in advancing terror operations is not being revealed for the first time,” the Mossad reported. “Senior Hamas figures continue to publicly deny any connection as part of an effort to shield the group’s image in the international arena.”
The source also mentioned a meeting between Mohammad Naim and his father in Qatar in September, which it said could indicate formal Hamas support for operations in Europe. Mossad warned in its statement that senior leaders’ continued denials “could signal a loss of control by the leadership over rogue operatives.”
Investigators are also looking for Hamas-aligned individuals operating out of Turkey, which has traditionally served as the organization’s base. Burhan al-Khatib was seized by German authorities in November; officials claim he was active in Turkey before transferring.
Meanwhile, European intelligence services have broadened their crackdown beyond direct security actions. Authorities in Germany, for example, have targeted charities and religious organizations suspected of assisting Hamas in raising cash or spreading extreme ideology, citing them as critical components of the organization’s infrastructure on the continent.
Mossad emphasized that following the October 7 attack on Israel, Hamas increased its foreign efforts, aiming to establish covert cells and operational capabilities abroad in a manner comparable to Iran and its proxies. The intelligence organization stated that it is presently trying to destroy “dozens of attack plots” around the world, emphasizing its commitment to protecting Israeli and Jewish populations globally.
