Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar orchestrated secret police force in Gaza to 'stalk' Palestinians, secret documents reveal

For years, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has directed a covert police force in Gaza that surveilled ordinary Palestinians, compiled dossiers on individuals including youths, journalists, and dissenters, according to intelligence sources and internal documents reviewed by The New York Times.

Known as the General Security Service, this unit relied on a network of informants in Gaza, some of whom reported on their neighbors. People found themselves in security files for participating in protests or publicly criticizing Hamas. The authorities even monitored individuals to determine if they were engaged in extramarital relationships.

While it’s widely known that Hamas governs Gaza with an iron fist, a recent presentation detailing the General Security Service’s activities sheds light on the extent of its intrusion into the lives of Palestinians. This revelation came just weeks before the October 7 attack on Israel.

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The 62 slide presentiation accessed by NYT illustrate Hamas’ intolerance of dissent, with security officials closely tracking journalists and individuals suspected of moral misconduct. They also discuss tactics to silence critics on social media and suppress political protests.

The situation in Gaza remained dire, with residents caught between Israel’s blockade and the heavy-handed tactics of the Hamas security apparatus. Despite claims of representing the people, Hamas leaders were and are still unwilling to tolerate any form of opposition.

Individuals named in the files corroborated key events and interactions with authorities described in the documents. The trove of intelligence files spans from October 2016 to August 2023 and includes information on at least 10,000 Palestinians.

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Ehab Fasfous, who was labeled in one report as among “the major haters of the Hamas movement”, was quoted in NYT report saying, “We’re facing bombardment by the occupation and thuggery by the local authorities.”

The said ‘confidential’ documents reportedly were provided to The Times by officials in Israel’s military intelligence directorate, who said they had been seized in raids in Gaza.

When asked, Basem Naim, a spokesman for Hamas, said the people responsible for the General Security Service were unreachable during the war.

Records indicate that before the war with Israel, the unit had 856 members and monthly expenses of $120,000. Of them, over 160 were paid to promote Hamas propaganda and conduct cyberattacks against domestic and international rivals. The unit’s current state remains unknown as Israel has severely damaged Hamas’s military and political capacities.

Although formally part of Hamas’ political structure, the General Security Service operates like a government entity. It is one of three powerful internal security bodies in Gaza, alongside Military Intelligence and the Internal Security Service.

Israeli intelligence officials believe Yahya Sinwar directly oversaw the General Security Service, as indicated in a presentation prepared specifically for him. The unit’s mandate includes protecting Hamas’ interests and silencing dissent.

While some tactics, such as media manipulation, are routine, others involve intimidation and surveillance. Palestinians in Gaza live in fear and often self-censor to avoid trouble with the authorities.

Fasfous alleged that apart from seizing his phone and stopping him from going to an anti-Hamas protest last August, the security officers sent ‘flirtatious’ text messages from his phone to a female colleague in order to allegedly pin a moral violation on him.

The secret documents did not include that detail but does describe ways to “deal with” Mr. Fasfous. “Defame him,” it said.

The documents highlight Hamas’ efforts to enforce a conservative social order, with reports of investigations into alleged moral misconduct and suspicions of foreign organisations and journalists.

Despite the challenging circumstances, some Palestinians continue to speak out against Hamas’ repressive tactics, underscoring the ongoing struggle for freedom and accountability in Gaza.