By Yoni Ben Menachem
• Deporting terrorists abroad represents a major challenge for the Israeli Mossad, which strives to prevent their terrorist activities against the State of Israel.
• Some of the terrorists will arrive in Istanbul, Türkiye, where Hamas' military wing operates under the auspices of Turkish intelligence and President Erdogan.
One of the biggest challenges facing the Israeli Mossad in the near future will be combating the terrorist activities of some 230 dangerous terrorists who will be deported abroad as part of the agreement for the release of hostages and the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The terrorists will initially be deported to Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye, but some are expected to travel from there to other countries.
El establishment Israeli security officials fear that many will return to terrorist activities against Israel, including attacks on Jewish and Israeli institutions abroad, kidnapping Israelis, smuggling operations for Iran, establishing terrorist infrastructures abroad, and directing terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria as well as within Israel itself.
According to data from the Israeli Security Agency (Shabak), approximately 50 percent of the terrorists released abroad as part of the exchange for the release of soldier Gilad Shalit in 2011 returned to terrorist activity.
About 80 percent of those not released abroad resumed operations in Judea and Samaria.
Senior security officials say the release of terrorists overseas provides a significant boost to Hamas's terror infrastructure, further strengthening its leadership abroad.
In Istanbul, Turkey, the “West Bank headquarters” of Hamas’ military wing, composed mainly of terrorists expelled in the Shalit deal, operates under the full protection of Turkish intelligence and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
This headquarters coordinates operations with the “West Bank Headquarters” in the Gaza Strip and is responsible for planning and executing attacks in Israel and Judea and Samaria.
According to security sources, terrorists from this Istanbul-based headquarters played a role in the October 7, 2023 massacre in Israeli communities surrounding Gaza.
Currently, the leader of this headquarters is Zaher al Jabarin, head of Hamas' military wing in Judea and Samaria, who replaced Saleh al Arouri following his elimination by Israel in Beirut in January 2024.
Al Jabarin, a former prisoner freed in the Shalit deal, has risen steadily within Hamas's ranks to become deputy head of the organization's political bureau.
Handling Hamas operations in Turkey is the responsibility of the Israeli Mossad, but conducting preemptive strike operations on Turkish soil poses a significant challenge due to the strength and efficiency of Turkish intelligence.
As a result, the Mossad may choose to wait for opportunities to attack these terrorists when they travel outside of Türkiye or Qatar.
However, the large-scale release of high-profile terrorists will place an immense burden on the Mossad, which will require extensive surveillance to thwart potential attacks.
This will require closer cooperation with foreign intelligence agencies around the world.
Following extensive discussions within Israel's security establishment, a recommendation has been made to political leaders to negotiate the deportation of these terrorists abroad.
While tracking and eliminating them would be easier inside Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip, moving them abroad would cut off direct contact with the Palestinian population, preventing them from becoming symbols of terrorism and limiting their movements due to the threat of Israeli action.
The standard of living of deported terrorists is expected to improve significantly, with many residing in hotels or private residences in Türkiye and Qatar and taking up senior positions within Hamas.
The Israel Security Agency assesses that many of the released terrorists are highly motivated to resume terrorist activity, driven by a desire for revenge for the war in Gaza.
They are expected to leverage their experience and skills to advance Hamas's goals.
Ultimately, the deportation of these terrorists abroad expands the global terrorist threat against Israel.
While their terrorist activities may be complicated by geographical distance, it does not diminish the overall risk they pose to Israel's security.
Source: Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs
It is dangerous, the ceasefire because the terrorists will continue doing the same thing