Report claims former Haniyeh bodyguard obtained UK citizenship before arrest in alleged plot

• He was arrested for involvement in an alleged European plot targeting Jewish sites, claimed via Mossad intelligence.
• The case sparked intense criticism over UK background checks for individuals with ties to senior Hamas leadership.

A man who allegedly served as a bodyguard for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was granted British citizenship before his arrest over an alleged plot to target Jewish communities in Europe and the UK, an investigative report published by British newspaper The Times claimed.

The individual's identity remains protected under legal restrictions in Britain, leading the newspaper report to identify him under the pseudonym "Mr. X."

According to the allegations detailed in The Times, "Mr. X" settled in the United Kingdom, where he worked as an IT consultant prior to receiving British citizenship.

Alleged Mossad link

The Times reported that the arrest of "Mr. X" occurred during an investigation targeting a suspected cell alleged to be planning anti-Jewish attacks across Europe in connection with the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

The newspaper claimed that intelligence triggering the law enforcement response and subsequent arrest was originally provided to authorities by 'Israel's' Mossad intelligence agency.

While the newspaper's report has prompted public questions regarding the thoroughness of background vetting procedures applied prior to granting UK citizenship to individuals with reported ties to senior Hamas figures, there are currently no official comments or formal confirmations from government authorities regarding the case.

Read more: Syria arrests former General over wartime offensives