Hamas is poised for significant blows to its top leadership as recent Israel attacks have shown a considerable Israeli “penetration” into its structure, a former intelligence officer has claimed.
Israel earlier this week claimed to have eliminated Marwan Issa, the head of the militant group’s armed wing in Central Gaza, during an air strike on the refugee camp of Nuseirat.
Former Israeli intelligence operative Ali Melamed told Daily Express US the successful attack on Issa suggested Israel secured access to reliable on-the-ground informers to calibrate its attacks.
Melamed noted Benjamin Netanyahu also needed to have reliable information to ensure no Israeli hostage was being held near Issa before launching their air raid.
He said: “The success of Israel’s operation against Marwan Issa illustrates the level of human asset penetration that Israeli Intelligence has into Hamas’s remaining forces in Gaza.
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The United States circulated the final draft of a United Nations Security Council resolution late Thursday that would support international efforts to establish “an immediate and sustained cease-fire” in the Israel-Hamas war as part of a deal to release hostages taken captive during Hamas’ surprise attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7.
The U.S. circulated the initial draft on Feb. 19, a day before it vetoed a widely supported Arab-backed resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in the war in the embattled Gaza Strip, saying it would interfere with negotiations on a deal to free the hostages.
It was the third U.S. veto of a Security Council resolution demanding a cease-fire in Gaza, and has put President Joe Biden’s administration at odds with much of the world, including many allies.
Diplomatic talks have stalled since efforts failed to produce a cease-fire before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan — an informal deadline that passed without any agreement.
