Israeli special forces carried out a deep operation inside Gaza to capture a senior Hamas figure.

What we know so far:

• The target was captured alive and extracted from Gaza into Israel.

• Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the capture of a senior Hamas operative.

• The detainee is reportedly the head of Hamas’s General Security Apparatus.

• Israeli officials describe the position as roughly equivalent to the head of Israel’s Shin Bet.

• The apparatus is responsible for protecting senior Hamas leaders and coordinating their movements and meetings.

• It manages secure communications and moves leaders between hideouts and emergency locations.

• It gathers intelligence, including on Israeli forces, for Hamas leadership and operations.

• It also tracks suspected collaborators and suppresses internal opposition.