The IDF raised its alert level along the entire Gaza border overnight amid concerns that Hamas could attempt to retaliate for Israel’s capture of the head of the terror group’s internal security service, Channel 12 reported.

Attack helicopters were active over the Gaza Strip throughout the night, with an increased rate of fire in several areas.

Despite the heightened alert, no special instructions have been issued for residents of the Gaza border communities.

The increased readiness follows Monday’s capture of Mu’een Mohammed al-Arabid, a senior Hamas internal security official, during an operation by the Shin Bet and IDF forces in western Gaza City. Al-Arabid was considered a high-value target and is believed to possess extensive intelligence on Hamas and its operations.

The Shin Bet had tracked al-Arabid’s location for several weeks and initially considered eliminating him in an airstrike. A decision was ultimately made to capture him alive and bring him to Israel for interrogation.

The operation had been planned for months and was approved in recent days by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz. It was directed from the Shin Bet’s special operations command center.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)