Former Hamas Leader’s Bodyguard Granted UK Citizenship Before Alleged Terror Plot

Britain granted a former bodyguard of slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh citizenship before British authorities arrested him over an alleged Hamas plot to attack Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe, according to a report by The Times.

A law enforcement source described the 39-year-old man as an “essential” figure in the alleged plot. For legal reasons, he is only identified as "Mr. X."

According to The Times, the suspect previously served as a bodyguard for Haniyeh and was arrested in Egypt more than a decade ago for operating a tunnel used to smuggle weapons and gold into the Gaza Strip.

He later moved to Britain, where he was granted refugee status and eventually citizenship. He reportedly worked as an IT consultant and lived in the suburbs of a large English city.

Despite his reported background, The Times of Israel said British security services did not consider him a priority when he allegedly began coordinating with other Hamas operatives in Europe.

Authorities accuse the group of planning attacks against Jewish community centers, Israeli diplomats and pro-Israel rallies in Germany or Austria. Prosecutors allege the group planned the attacks for around the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre.

British authorities arrested Mr. X in central London in November 2025 following a German arrest warrant. The arrest was part of a multinational investigation that also involved Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.

German authorities previously said the British suspect received five handguns and ammunition from another alleged Hamas operative and transported the weapons to Vienna for storage.

The broader investigation also identified several suspected members of the alleged Hamas network in Europe. During arrests in October 2025, German police seized an AK-47 rifle, handguns and ammunition.

Mossad later said weapons uncovered during the investigation belonged to Hamas operative Muhammad Na’im, the son of senior Gaza-based Hamas political bureau member Basem Na’im. The agency said its investigation indicated that Hamas operatives in Europe had been preparing attacks against civilians.

According to The Times of Israel, a reported indictment against Mr. X alleges that he filmed himself discussing the planned attacks while masked and armed, with a Hamas flag behind him, and said the operation was being carried out on behalf of Hamas’s military wing.

Hamas has denied involvement in the European plots.

Mr. X remains the subject of extradition proceedings and could be sent to Germany to face charges over the alleged plot.