Greek special forces arrested a 37-year-old Egyptian man of Palestinian origin, identified as Motasem, in Agios Nikolaos, Crete, in early June. Authorities allege he was working as an electrician at a luxury hotel while preparing to carry out a terrorist attack against an Israeli cruise ship that frequents Greek ports.
During a raid on his apartment in Athens, Greek police discovered chemicals, a precision scale, and other equipment believed to be used for making bombs. The investigation was reportedly initiated after Cypriot police arrested two Palestinians near Larnaca who were in contact with Motasem.
Investigators suspect the plot was aimed at an Israeli cruise ship, a vessel that has previously been the focus of anti-Israel protests. According to reports, Motasem and four other Palestinians had been stopped by police during a previous ship visit a year prior but were not detained.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of arrests linked to suspected Hamas members across Europe. German authorities have arrested nine men since October of the previous year, with operations also occurring near Copenhagen and in relation to Berlin-Brandenburg Airport, Larnaca Airport, London, and Vienna. Greek media also indicated Motasem had resided in Germany for an extended period.
German Federal Prosecutor General Jens Rommel stated that members of the network were allegedly planning attacks on Jewish or Israeli institutions in Europe. German police reportedly recovered a pre-recorded claim of responsibility and found that preparations had advanced to a point where a date had been selected. German prosecutors suggest the intended date was the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel in 2025, leading investigators to describe the alleged plan as a potential 'second October 7th in Europe.'
The network is accused of moving weapons across the continent for months. Approximately five Glock pistols were reportedly transported from Denmark to Vienna via Berlin during the summer of 2025. The wider network is alleged to have smuggled at least 13 pistols, an AK-47 assault rifle, and over 900 rounds of ammunition through Scandinavia, Germany, and Austria before Austrian authorities discovered a weapons cache in Vienna.
German investigators also believe Hamas had been preparing weapons caches in Europe years before the October 7 attacks. In December 2023, Bulgarian police found a suitcase with weapons and ammunition near Plovdiv after tracing photographs from the phone of Lebanese national Ibrahim el-Rassatmi. He had allegedly been instructed by Hamas in Lebanon as early as April 2019 to establish weapons depots. Further caches were reportedly created in Denmark and Poland, with investigators suspecting additional sites near the German-Polish border.
In February 2023, members of a Hamas cell in Germany were allegedly ordered from Lebanon to transport weapons and prepare attacks against Jewish, Israeli, or American targets. Investigators claim surveillance was conducted on the U.S. military base at Ramstein, the Israeli embassy in Berlin, and Tempelhofer Feld in Berlin. Reports indicate members of the Berlin cell traveled to Lebanon to meet with Khalil al-Kharraz, a senior commander in Hamas' Qassam Brigades who was killed by the Israeli military in 2023. Security services reportedly identified several members of the Berlin Hamas cell in footage from Kharraz's funeral.
Hamas has denied any connection to the men arrested across Europe, stating that the accusations are an attempt to tarnish the movement's reputation and that its struggle is limited to Palestine. However, terrorism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler of the Counter Extremism Project expressed skepticism, citing close personnel links to Hamas leadership. Schindler suggested that Hamas' perceived weakness following the war with Israel could increase the risk of external attacks, as terrorist organizations may seek publicity to demonstrate continued relevance. He further posited that an attack in Europe or on a Mediterranean cruise ship could generate global attention and apply political pressure on countries supporting Israel.