The IDF on Sunday revealed intelligence documents showing that the "Spokesperson for the Civil Defense in the Gaza Strip," who has been the primary source for hundreds of false statements by media outlets worldwide, is not merely under the influence of Hamas, but is an actual Hamas agent.

Throughout the current war, the IDF has recommended that media outlets be wary of reports and casualty statistics provided by Mahmoud Zabar Tafesh Bassal and his team at the "civil defense" for Gaza based on the idea that almost any official institution in Gaza was under Hamas's influence, given that the terror group was ready to kill or mame anyone who did not toe its line on public relations messages.

However, on Sunday, the IDF revealed an analysis of actual intelligence documents found during its invasion of Gaza, which show that Bassal is an active terrorist within Hamas.

The three intelligence documents disclosed by the IDF all mention Bassal by name, though in different contexts.

In one document, he is referred to as working as a cell head in Hamas intelligence for the "Fifth Brigade: Eye of Goliath." In another document, he is referred to as a "keeper of the order", and in a third as a deputy platoon commander.

Spokesperson for the Civil Defense in the Gaza Strip, Mahmoud Saber Tafesh Bassal, who is also a Hamas terrorist. (credit: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit)
Spokesperson for the Civil Defense in the Gaza Strip, Mahmoud Saber Tafesh Bassal, who is also a Hamas terrorist. (credit: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit)
An overall summary says he is part of the Zeitoun Battalion of the Gaza City Brigade (Hamas had five brigades, two in northern Gaza, one in central Gaza, one in Khan Yunis, and one in Rafah).

According to the documents, Bassal joined Hamas in January 29, 2005, became a soldier in 2013, and was promoted to officer in 2020.

Israel has regularly highlighted Gaza officials and Gaza journalists who are said to wear "dual hats" - having both civilian and military Hamas capacities.

According to the IDF, Bassal "has served as the spokesperson for the Civil Defense for an extended period of time and abuses his role by spreading false and unverified information to the international media, while falsely attributing war crimes to Israel and by presenting fabricated data. This information receives global media exposure and has caused a severe distortion of the reality on the ground."

'Serves the purpose of psychological warfare and propaganda' 

It added that, "the documents now being revealed prove unequivocally: Mahmoud Saber Tafesh Bassal is a terrorist in the Hamas terrorist organization who, as part of his role, serves the purposes of psychological warfare and propaganda."

The IDF called on media outlets to "exercise caution regarding unverified information published" by Hamas and by the civil defense in Gaza.