Israel says it foils Hamas drone plot to assassinate far-right minister Itamar Ben Gvir

Alisa Odenheimer, Bloomberg News on Sep 3, 2025

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Israel’s Shin Bet said it foiled a Hamas plot to assassinate Itamar Ben Gvir, the country’s far-right security minister, through a drone attack.

The intelligence agency arrested Hamas operatives in the Hebron area of the West Bank in recent weeks in a joint operation with the Israeli military, according to a statement on Wednesday.

There was no immediate comment from Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and European Union.

Ben Gvir is one of the most nationalistic ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. He has caused outrage across the Arab world and many Western countries with his comments about Palestinians and has said Israel should annex the West Bank and Gaza. In June, countries including the U.K. and Australia imposed sanctions on Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Shin Bet said the Hamas operatives purchased several drones, which were seized, to carry out an attack on Ben Gvir.

“The Shin Bet’s interrogation of the suspects is ongoing,” it said. It’s fairly rare for the intelligence agency to announce assassination attempts against individuals.