Lebanese army detains third Hamas member linked to rocket fire towards Israel

Lebanon's army said on Tuesday it had received a third Palestinian suspect from Hamas, allegedly involved in launching rockets from Lebanese territory toward Israel in March, as pressure mounts on the group to comply with national security directives.

In a statement posted on X, the army said its intelligence directorate had taken custody of the suspect, identified only by his initials, Q.S., at the entrance to the Burj al-Shamali camp near Tyre in south Lebanon.

The army said the move was part of ongoing coordination with Hamas and efforts to detain all individuals involved in the rocket attacks towards Israel.

The latest handover follows the arrest of two other suspects by the army in recent days.

The three are accused of participating in two rocket launches from southern Lebanon toward Israel on 22 and 28 March 2025. In response, Israel conducted airstrikes on several locations in southern Lebanon and the suburbs of Beirut.

According to the army, the suspects allegedly fired five rockets on 22 March, of which three were intercepted by Israel. A second attack on 28 March reportedly involved two more rockets launched toward northern Israel, triggering an Israeli airstrike on the Jamous area in southern Beirut.

The handovers come after Lebanon’s military court on Monday indicted nine Hamas members for forming an armed group to undermine state authority, amassing heavy weapons, and violating UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which governs the cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.

The charges also accuse them of endangering Lebanon's national security by using its territory for attacks.

Pressure on Hamas

The Lebanese authorities have ramped up pressure on Hamas following the rocket incidents. On 2 May, the Higher Defence Council issued a strong warning, recommending the government take "the utmost measures" to prevent the use of Lebanese soil for military operations that could drag the country into conflict. Hamas responded by pledging cooperation with Lebanese army intelligence.

The group handed over the first suspect on Sunday at the entrance of Ain al-Helweh, a Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon. The second suspect was transferred on Monday.

A Lebanese security source told The New Arab that Hamas was yet to confirm when it would hand over a fourth suspect, described as a cleric and the alleged mastermind behind the rocket operations.

"He is expected to be handed over soon, possibly within hours," the source said, adding that Hamas had initially promised to resolve the issue within 48 hours but has since delayed the transfer.

"The situation with Hamas is currently stable," the source added. "It will improve significantly once the fourth and most important suspect is handed over."

Israel has continued to carry out strikes on Lebanese territory despite a ceasefire agreed in November, which was intended to halt more than a year of near-daily exchanges with Hezbollah.

While Israel often claims to be targeting Hezbollah operatives, it has also struck Hamas-affiliated individuals and infrastructure, as well as civilians.