Hamas is extending its terror network across Europe, including the United Kingdom, according to an intelligence report seen by the Mirror. The report warns that the group, despite suffering heavy losses in Gaza, has established secret weapons caches and operatives in several European countries, posing a significant threat to Israeli diplomatic missions, businesses, and religious sites.
The report names the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Belgium, and Switzerland as areas where Hamas has expanded its influence. It claims the group is supported by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah, and has developed links with Eastern European crime networks to source weapons, including AK-47 assault rifles and drones.
Hamas's expansion into Europe was planned long before its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which triggered a war that has killed over 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza and more than 2,000 Israelis. The report argues that the destruction of Hamas's infrastructure in Gaza has made it more willing to launch external operations, activating contingency plans developed over years.
The current terror threat level in the UK is assessed as 'substantial' by MI5 and the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, meaning an attack is likely. While Islamist groups like Islamic State pose the primary threat, the report highlights that Hamas could also be responsible. The short-term outlook suggests an increased risk of attacks against Israeli targets across Europe over the next six months.
