Israeli special forces nab Islamic Jihad operative

In a precision operation conducted deep within Gaza City, Israeli special forces have reportedly apprehended a high-ranking Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) member linked to the kidnapping of an Israeli citizen.

According to regional reports emerging Sunday, the undercover operation took place five days ago in the Zeitoun neighborhood. 

The raid was centered near the Al-Ahli (Al-Ma'amadani) Hospital, a volatile area that has remained a focal point of intelligence-driven activity. 

The captured operative has been identified as Mohammad Azzam, a member of the PIJ.

Azzam is believed to be one of four key individuals directly involved in the abduction of Ran Gvili. Gvili was taken into the Gaza Strip during the events of October 7, and his fate has been a subject of intense intelligence gathering for over two years.

Sources indicate that Israel had previously submitted Azzam’s name, along with three other operatives, to Hamas leadership. 

The submission included a formal demand for Hamas to interrogate these individuals to extract specific information regarding Gvili’s status and location—a demand that appears to have preceded this direct military intervention.

The apprehension of Azzam marks a significant escalation in "active recovery" efforts. Rather than relying solely on diplomatic channels or large-scale maneuvers, the use of special forces to extract specific high-value targets suggests a shift toward surgical intelligence-gathering on the ground.

While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not officially commented on the specific details of the mission, the move is seen as a clear signal that individuals involved in the holding of Israeli captives remain primary targets for Israeli security services. 

The capture of Azzam is expected to provide investigators with critical leads into the network responsible for the initial abduction and subsequent holding of captives within the Strip.