Most of Hamas's military leaders based in Beirut escaped the Lebanese capital due to fears of being targets of assassinations, KAN News reported Sunday night, citing a source within Hamas.
As per the source in the Gaza-based terrorist group, Hamas has taken significant measures to ensure their leaders' security following the targeted killing of Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri, widely attributed to Israel.
Arouri was killed along with at least five other people in an alleged Israeli drone strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Arouri was not only viewed as one of the master planners of Hamas’s October 7 massacre in southern Israel.
According to the KAN report, Hamas officials left Lebanon and soon were deported to Syria and Turkey. In addition, senior leader Ghazi Hamad had reportedly fled to Qatar and has not returned to Lebanon since Arouri's assassination.
Sisters of former Hamas leader arrested in West Bank
Earlier on Sunday, Israeli forces arrested Arouri's sisters, Dalal and Fatima al-Arouri, from their homes in al-Bireh and Aroura in the West Bank, according to Palestinian reports.
The two are suspected of spreading incitement, according to Army Radio.