Shin Bet accused of using threats against families to isolate Gaza targets

Key Points:

• Israel's Shin Bet reportedly uses a tactic in Gaza where targets receive phone calls threatening either the bombing of their entire family or being killed alone, according to Asharq Al-Awsat, which interviewed several Palestinian faction activists and their families.
• A recent case involved Muhammad Al-Bayouk, who was allegedly given this choice before being killed by an IDF drone strike after choosing to be targeted alone on a roof in Khan Younis.
• The targets of these calls are described as activists linked to military actions, distinct from senior field leaders who are typically killed in larger-scale missile or drone attacks that may cause civilian casualties.
• The IDF and Shin Bet have not commented on these specific allegations, but the IDF frequently reports high-profile kills in Gaza using Shin Bet intelligence, including the recent killing of a Hamas commander involved in hostage-taking.
• In recent operations, the IDF also killed four Islamic Jihad and Hamas operatives in targeted strikes across Gaza, including in Khan Younis, as part of ongoing military actions.