In the depths of its secret network of tunnels dug by Hamas under the Gaza Strip operates a shadow military unit, called the Shadow Unit, whose mission is to take Israeli hostages.

According to Euronews, founded in 2006, the unit became the most secretive section of the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and was administered by the late Qassam Chief of Staff, Mohammed al-Deif, with carefully selected members after rigorous training, which included psychological warfare and emotional stability testing.

The unit supervised the detention of Israeli hostages, civilians, and soldiers captured during the October 7 attack, according to security sources

However, Hamas won’t reveal the precise number of Israeli prisoners it is holding or the location of their detention.Hamas officials say that the unit treats the detainees “according to Islamic values” but are reluctant to give details about their detention conditions.

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Israeli intelligence agencies suggest that the shadow unit uses sophisticated methods to mislead detection operations, including moving prisoners between tunnels.

For 18 years, the unit managed to stay out of the public eye but came to light during a landmark swap deal in 2011, when 1,027 Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for soldier Gilad Shalit, and again in 2022, when one of its members was killed in an Israeli raid.

It is believed that Shalit’s videos leaked during his captivity were part of Hamas’ psychological pressure strategy, a tactic used by the Shadow Unit.

This tactic was used repeatedly during the Gaza War, when excerpts from Israeli prisoners inside Gaza were published with messages to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Jewish state’s political leadership calling for an end to the war and an exchange deal with Hamas.

Despite the mystery surrounding it, Hamas has confirmed that the “shadow unit” is subject to high security standards. Its members are subject to surprise searches, their phones are blocked from connecting to regular networks, and some members don’t even know the identities of their colleagues.

In light of the complexity of the scene, the “shadow unit” remains an enigma, which Hamas uses as leverage. Through it, Hamas asserts that the battle for Gaza extends beyond the surface, encompassing labyrinths and tunnels beneath the sand, with the goal of altering the dynamics of its conflict with Israel.

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