Hamas ‘targets’ Europe
Mossad foils plot to attack Israeli embassy in Sweden
A Hamas terror plot targeting Israel’s embassy in Sweden and Jewish sites in Europe has been thwarted by Israeli intelligence agencies Mossad and Shin Bet, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The network, allegedly orchestrated by Hamas commanders in Lebanon, had plans for more attacks in Europe, involving the acquisition of drones and collaboration with European criminal organisations, Israel said.
:“Israel had discovered details on theatres of operation, terror targets, and on those involved in carrying out attacks — from Hamas commanders in Lebanon to the last of the attackers in the operational infrastructure,” Mr Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
This revelation follows a series of uncovered plots in Europe in recent weeks.
In December, European authorities arrested Hamas cells in Denmark, Germany, and Holland, suspecting their involvement in plotting attacks on Jewish targets.
Danish police found seven individuals linked to a foiled terror attack in December had Hamas connections, confirming Mr Netanyahu’s assertion about Hamas expanding its operations into Europe.
“The alleged connection to Hamas confirms that the threat against Denmark is serious, but luckily we have a strong police and intelligence service doing their best to protect us every day,” Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said.
Meanwhile, Mr Netanyahu doubled down on his vows to defeat Hamas, as the UN marked the 100th day of the war, saying it was “staining humanity”.
“The massive death, destruction, displacement, hunger, loss and grief of the last 100 days are staining our shared humanity,” the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, said in the Gaza Strip.
And the International Court of Justice in The Hague last week heard arguments in a case launched by South Africa accusing Israel of breaching the UN Genocide Convention.
But Mr Netanyahu insisted no court or military foe could stop Israel from destroying Hamas.
“No one will stop us – not The Hague, not the Axis of Evil and no one else,” he said.
“It is possible and necessary to continue until victory, and we will do it,” he said, claiming most Hamas battalions in Gaza had been “eliminated”.
Health officials in Gaza said recent Israeli strikes killed at least 60 people, while Israel said it struck dozens of rocket launchers that were “ready to be used” in central Gaza.