A massive Mossad-led operation has exposed a secret Hamas terror network in Europe, revealing cells hiding in Austria and Germany, stockpiling weapons and planning attacks on Jews and Israelis.
The operation, conducted with European intelligence agencies, resulted in multiple arrests, including the son of Hamas senior official Bassem Naim, who hid guns and explosives in Vienna.
“The involvement of the organization’s leadership in Qatar in advancing terror operations is not being revealed for the first time,” the Mossad stated, emphasizing that senior Hamas figures continue to deny any connection as part of an effort to shield the group’s image internationally.
The investigation uncovered a meeting in Qatar between Muhammad Naim and his father, suggesting high-level approval for the establishment of the Vienna cell. European authorities have intensified security operations and legal-political measures targeting Hamas-linked organizations, including associations and religious bodies accused of raising funds or recruiting operatives.
Muhammad Naim, son of Bassem Naim, was arrested in Vienna with a cache of guns and explosives. Burhan al-Khatib, a prominent Hamas figure, was arrested in Germany after operating from Turkey. Pistols and explosive devices were seized in Vienna, intended for attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets.
The Mossad emphasized that Hamas’s repeated denials may reflect an internal loss of control over increasingly independent operatives. The operation demonstrates the growing recognition of Hamas’s global operational ambitions and the resolve among European governments to counter them.