Hamas’ Europe-Based Network Poised For ‘On Command’ Attacks, Claims Mossad

Last Updated:November 23, 2025, 08:36 IST

Mossad claims Hamas is building secret cells across Europe, linking weapons caches and arrests in Germany, Austria, and Turkey to senior Hamas figures.

Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency has alleged that Hamas has been quietly building an operational network across Europe, using clandestine cells to plan attacks and store weapons.

In a statement released this week, Mossad said cooperation with European security services had led to the discovery of weapons caches, the arrest of suspects and the disruption of plots targeting Israeli and Jewish communities. Joint operations in countries including Germany and Austria resulted in multiple detentions and the seizure of weapons allegedly prepared “on command” for use against civilians.

One of the most significant breakthroughs cited by investigators occurred in Vienna last September, when Austria’s DSN security service uncovered a cache of handguns and explosive materials. Authorities later linked the stash to Mohammad Naim, the son of senior Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim, a close ally of Gaza-based leader Khalil al-Hayya.

Mossad claimed the discovery reflected broader overseas involvement by Hamas’s leadership. “The involvement of the organisation’s leadership in Qatar in advancing terror operations is not being revealed for the first time,” the agency said, accusing senior Hamas figures of publicly denying responsibility to protect the group’s international image.

According to the agency, a meeting in Qatar last September between Mohammad Naim and his father may indicate formal support from Hamas’s leadership for European-based operations. The agency added that continued denials by senior leaders “could signal a loss of control by the leadership over rogue operatives.”

Investigations have also focused on Hamas-linked individuals operating from Turkey, long a base of activity for the group. German authorities arrested Burhan al-Khatib in November, saying he had previously been active in Turkey before moving to Europe.

European intelligence services have broadened efforts beyond direct counter-terrorism operations. German authorities, for example, have targeted charities and religious institutions suspected of aiding Hamas financially or ideologically, viewing them as an important part of the group’s infrastructure on the continent.

Mossad said Hamas accelerated its foreign activity following the group’s 7 October attack on Israel, attempting to establish covert cells and operational capabilities abroad in ways that mirror strategies used by Iran and its proxies. The agency said it is actively working to disrupt “dozens of attack plots” worldwide, underscoring its aim to protect Israeli and Jewish communities internationally.

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