By: Tzirel Rosenblatt

Israeli security services revealed this week that they had disrupted yet another attempt on the life of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, uncovering a Hamas cell operating out of Hebron that sought to deploy explosive-laden drones against the high-profile minister. The joint operation, led by the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), demonstrates both the evolving nature of terrorist threats against Israeli leaders and the increasing reliance of militant groups on advanced technologies.

According to a statement released by the Shin Bet and the IDF and reported by the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) on Wednesday, multiple drones were seized during the arrests. Investigators determined that the devices had been procured with the assistance of Hamas operatives based in Turkey, a country long accused of serving as a hub for the group’s overseas logistics and planning.

The revelation underscores what JNS frequently highlights as a central challenge for Israeli security: not only the persistence of terrorism emanating from the West Bank but also the transnational infrastructure supporting those efforts.

Ben-Gvir, who heads the Otzma Yehudit Party and is one of the most prominent figures in Israel’s current governing coalition, has repeatedly been singled out as a target by both Hamas and Iran-backed terror groups. As JNS has reported, security agencies have foiled multiple plots in recent years aimed at assassinating him.

In March 2023, police arrested an Arab resident of eastern Jerusalem who confessed to planning to murder Ben-Gvir by disguising himself in a stolen police vehicle. Six months later, five suspects allegedly recruited by Iran were apprehended for plotting to kill both Ben-Gvir and former Knesset member Yehudah Glick, a well-known advocate for Jewish prayer rights on the Temple Mount.

April 2024 saw another dramatic attempt, when the Shin Bet disrupted a scheme involving a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). Authorities disclosed at the time that the conspirators had considered attacking not only Ben-Gvir but also Ben-Gurion Airport, government facilities in Jerusalem, IDF bases, and the Jewish community of Kiryat Arba.

Then, in late 2024, prosecutors charged three Arab terrorists from Hebron, including Ismail Ibrahim Awadi, with conspiring to assassinate Ben-Gvir and his son. Awadi, according to JNS reports, had direct contact with both Hamas and Hezbollah operatives to coordinate potential attacks.

The pattern of repeated attempts on Ben-Gvir’s life has underscored his role as a symbolic and strategic target. His position overseeing the Israel Prison Service and broader security policies makes him a lightning rod for terrorist hostility, particularly as his ministry has spearheaded tougher conditions for convicted terrorists in Israeli prisons.

What sets the most recent plot apart, however, is its embrace of drones as weapons of assassination. While Hamas and Hezbollah have employed unmanned aerial systems in attacks against military targets, their potential use against a sitting cabinet minister marks a new and disturbing escalation.

Security experts interviewed by JNS described the threat as part of a broader global trend in which terrorist groups exploit the relatively low cost and accessibility of commercial drone technology. Fitted with explosives, drones can evade traditional security perimeters, making them particularly attractive for targeting high-profile officials.

Israel, which has developed one of the most advanced counter-drone systems in the world, has long anticipated such tactics. Nonetheless, the arrest of the Hebron cell illustrates the constant vigilance required to stay ahead of adversaries who are increasingly innovative in their methods.

Ben-Gvir responded to news of the foiled plot with characteristic defiance. “Thank you to the Israel Security Agency for arresting another cell that tried to assassinate me,” he said in a statement quoted in the JNS report. “The terrorists who were caught will now get to know the updated conditions for the terrorists in our prisons up close.”

His reference to “updated conditions” alluded to the controversial policies his ministry has implemented in recent months, including restricting privileges for convicted terrorists, consolidating prison wings, and reducing recreational time. While critics argue such measures inflame tensions, Ben-Gvir has insisted they are essential to restoring deterrence.

For the broader Israeli public, news of the arrests serves as both reassurance and warning: reassurance that security services remain vigilant, and warning that Hamas and its allies continue to direct resources toward high-profile assassinations.

The detail that the drones were acquired with the help of Hamas operatives based in Turkey is likely to strain an already tense aspect of Israel’s regional diplomacy. As JNS has repeatedly documented, Turkey has provided safe haven for Hamas leaders and operatives, even as it has simultaneously pursued economic and diplomatic engagement with Israel.

Ankara’s support has included permitting Hamas figures to coordinate operations and fundraising from Turkish soil, a reality that Israeli officials have long decried. The revelation that Hamas’s Turkey branch facilitated a plot against a sitting Israeli minister will renew calls in Jerusalem for Ankara to curtail the group’s activities.

For Israeli security strategists, the latest assassination plot highlights several broader trends:

Persistent Targeting of Israeli Leaders: Terror groups view political figures such as Ben-Gvir as symbolic targets whose elimination would carry both psychological and political weight.

Innovation in Tactics: The embrace of drones demonstrates a shift toward using readily available technologies for asymmetric warfare.

Foreign Support Networks: The role of Hamas’s Turkey branch underlines how external sanctuaries bolster the group’s ability to threaten Israel from afar.

Regional Implications: Each thwarted attack underscores the precarious balance Israel must maintain between deterrence and escalation, particularly as it faces threats not only from Hamas but also from Hezbollah, Iran, and their allies.

The repeated attempts on Ben-Gvir’s life reflect a broader reality: Israeli ministers and lawmakers are increasingly seen as direct targets in the ongoing conflict with Hamas and other terror factions. While previous generations of Israeli leaders faced threats primarily from organized military forces, today’s leaders operate in an environment where non-state actors leverage global networks and modern technologies to mount direct attacks.

The JNS report emphasized that this environment demands constant adaptation from Israeli security services. The Shin Bet, IDF, and Israel Police must now account not only for traditional methods such as shootings and bombings but also for novel tactics like drone strikes and cyber intrusions.

The foiling of the Hebron cell’s plot to assassinate Itamar Ben-Gvir using explosive drones stands as a testament to the resilience and effectiveness of Israel’s security services. Yet it also underscores the continuing danger posed by Hamas, aided by foreign networks, and the unrelenting focus on high-profile Israeli figures as potential targets.

As the JNS report has noted, each successive attempt reveals both the creativity and desperation of Israel’s enemies. For Ben-Gvir and the broader Israeli public, the message is clear: vigilance must remain constant, and the threats are far from over.

At the same time, the repeated failure of these plots demonstrates a parallel truth: Israel’s layered security apparatus, though constantly tested, continues to deliver on its fundamental mission — protecting its leaders, its institutions, and its people against those who seek their destruction.