Former bodyguard of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was granted British citizenship before being arrested over an alleged plot to attack Jewish and pro-Israel targets in Europe.
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According to Times of Israel, citing The Times UK, reported that the man, identified only as “Mr X” for legal reasons, had been granted refugee status in Britain and later obtained citizenship.
He was living in the UK as an IT consultant before his arrest in connection with an alleged plot targeting Jewish community centres, Israeli diplomats and pro-Israel rallies in Germany and Austria.
The Times UK reported that Mr X had previously served on Haniyeh’s personal security detail and had been arrested in Egypt over an alleged weapons and gold-smuggling tunnel into Gaza. The report said he later moved to Britain, where he obtained refugee status and eventually British citizenship.
The man was reportedly arrested in central London in November as part of a multinational investigation involving Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and European authorities.
According to The Times, Mr X allegedly filmed himself declaring that the planned operation was being carried out on behalf of Hamas’s military wing. The video reportedly showed him masked and armed, with a Hamas flag visible in the background.
He is now facing extradition proceedings to Germany over the alleged plot, which investigators said was linked to Hamas’s military wing.
The report has also raised questions over how British authorities assessed Mr X’s background before granting him citizenship.
The Times reported that his Hamas activities were publicly known, yet he was not considered a priority by British security services.
