Egyptian intelligence services have reportedly foiled what is believed to be a covert operation by Israel aimed at eliminating senior Hamas figures operating on Egyptian soil. The revelation, attributed to unnamed intelligence sources cited by Middle East Eye, has sparked serious concerns about the potential implications for regional stability and Egypt’s national sovereignty.
According to the report, Egyptian authorities uncovered a network allegedly linked to Israeli intelligence that was monitoring the movements of high-ranking members of the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, some of whom are believed to have been using Egypt as a temporary safe haven or transit point. The operation, which was described as a sophisticated and highly secretive attempt to carry out targeted assassinations, was reportedly halted before it could be executed.
Sources familiar with the matter indicate that Cairo views the incident as a serious breach of its territorial integrity and a dangerous escalation in an already volatile regional climate. Egypt, which has maintained a historically sensitive role as both a neighbor to Gaza and a mediator between Israel and Palestinian factions, is said to have issued strong internal warnings following the exposure of the alleged plot.
While Egyptian officials have not yet issued a formal public statement on the matter, diplomatic sources suggest that quiet but firm back-channel communications have been initiated with Tel Aviv. Cairo is reportedly demanding explanations while reinforcing that its territory must not be used as a theatre for foreign intelligence operations or extrajudicial activities.
The reported assassination plot comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region, with the Gaza conflict intensifying and pressure mounting on Israel from various fronts. Hamas leaders, many of whom operate from abroad due to security concerns, have often used countries like Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey as strategic points for diplomacy, coordination, and temporary refuge.
Security analysts believe that any confirmed Israeli operation on Egyptian soil could trigger a diplomatic rift and complicate the longstanding though often discreet intelligence cooperation between the two countries, particularly in Sinai and Gaza border security.
As the situation continues to unfold, regional watchers are closely monitoring Cairo’s next steps and any potential response from Israeli authorities. The incident underscores the fragile nature of intelligence activity in the Middle East, where overlapping conflicts, political rivalries, and covert operations frequently test the limits of diplomacy and sovereignty.
