Israeli Forces Foil Hamas Drone Assassination Plot Against National Security Minister

Israeli security forces, including the Shin Bet and Israel Defense Forces, have thwarted a Hamas assassination plot targeting National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir using explosive-laden drones. The Hamas cell, operating in the Hebron area and directed by a branch based in Turkey, had acquired multiple drones intended for the attack, all of which were seized during arrests. This foiled plot is one of several attempts on Ben Gvir's life, with previous schemes involving rocket-propelled grenades and other methods, highlighting Hamas's ongoing efforts to strike senior Israeli political figures. Ben Gvir, a far-right minister and head of the Otzma Yehudit Party, thanked security forces and reaffirmed his commitment to a tough security stance, emphasizing that attacks against him would be met with strong retaliation. Investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the network and any accomplices both in the West Bank and abroad. The repeated targeting of Ben Gvir underscores the heightened security challenges faced by Israeli officials amid persistent threats from Hamas.