WATCH: Hamas touts alleged downed Israeli drone

The Shin Bet was questioned, it refused to address an Israeli report that the drone belonged to it.

 Palestinian fighters from the armed wing of Hamas take part in a military parade to mark the anniversary of the 2014 war with Israel, near the border in the central Gaza Strip, July 19, 2023. (photo credit: REUTERS/IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA)
Palestinian fighters from the armed wing of Hamas take part in a military parade to mark the anniversary of the 2014 war with Israel, near the border in the central Gaza Strip, July 19, 2023.
(photo credit: REUTERS/IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA)

Hamas's military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, claimed on Tuesday that it had seized an Israeli "Orbiter" drone in the Gaza Strip, after Palestinian media claimed an Israeli drone fell in the Strip on Monday.

Though at first, the expected culprit drone was thought to be from the IDF, as Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank as well as Hezbollah in Lebanon have downed quite a few IDF drones, the IDF immediately categorically denied the drone was one of its own.

KAN reports drone belonged to Shin Bet

Unlike the IDF, when the Shin Bet was questioned, it refused to address a KAN report that the drone belonged to it.

Hamas releases footage of an Israeli drone it says it seized in Gaza (Credit: Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades).

While this is not a full confirmation, the Shin Bet's refusal to comment coupled with the IDF's hard denial suggests this is an unusual situation where a Shin Bet drone has been captured.

 Orbiter drone (credit: Pibwl/Wikimedia Commons)
Orbiter drone (credit: Pibwl/Wikimedia Commons)

It was unclear how often this has happened in the past or whether the agency would need to publicly address the issue as the IDF frequently does, with assurances that no secrets were given up.