German Police Arrest Three Suspected Hamas Operatives Over Planned Attacks on Jewish Targets
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
German police have arrested three men suspected of plotting serious attacks on Jewish targets in the country on behalf of Hamas, federal prosecutors confirmed on Wednesday. The arrests come just days before the second anniversary of the Palestinian Islamist group’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the ongoing Gaza war.
Suspects and Weapons Seized
The men, identified under German privacy laws as German citizen Abed Al G., Wael F. M. (born in Lebanon), and German citizen Ahmad I., were apprehended in Berlin. A security source disclosed that all three are in their 30s or 40s.
Prosecutors allege the suspects were acting as foreign operatives for Hamas, involved in procuring firearms and ammunition intended for assassinations targeting Israeli or Jewish institutions in Germany.
“In the course of today’s arrests, various weapons, including an AK-47 assault rifle and several pistols, as well as a considerable amount of ammunition, were found,” prosecutors said in a statement.
Forensic technicians are now examining the seized arsenal. Searches also extended to Leipzig, where one suspect resides, and Oberhausen, in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Previous Hamas-Linked Case in Germany
Akahi News recalls that in February, four Hamas members accused of plotting attacks on Jewish institutions in Europe went on trial in Berlin. That case was described by prosecutors as Germany’s first prosecution of Hamas operatives.
Anti-terror investigators revealed that the suspects had been observed meeting in Berlin for a weapon handover before special forces intervened, discovering functional firearms including a Glock pistol.
Germany’s Strong Ties With Israel
Germany, one of Israel’s staunchest allies due to the legacy of the Holocaust, maintains tight security around synagogues and Jewish institutions. Authorities have remained on high alert since Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.
Unlike France, Britain, and several other European nations, Berlin notably refused to recognise Palestinian statehood last month, siding instead with Israel’s position. Both the Israeli government and the Trump administration strongly opposed such recognitions, describing them as a reward for Hamas’s violence.
Heightened Security Across Europe
Police forces across Europe have stepped up surveillance and protection of Jewish and Israeli-linked sites amid a documented spike in antisemitic incidents since 2023.
The announcement of these arrests comes as Hamas has yet to respond to a 20-point peace plan by US President Donald Trump, which includes disarmament of the group and the release of hostages as conditions to end the Gaza war.
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