Razek Shaaban
Photo: Shin Bet
Azzam Ban
Photo: Shin Bet
Suleiman Nassassra
Photo: Shin Bet
Hamas cell arrested along Egypt border
Two-member cell arrested by Shin Bet had planned to kidnap soldiers, carry out terror attacks
The Shin Bet and IDF two months ago arrested two Hamas members who attempted to infiltrate Israel from Egypt and set up a larger terror cell in the West Bank, it was revealed Thursday.
The men were equipped with guns, hand grenades and a large amount of cash. Security officials said the two men had most likely planned to kidnap IDF soldiers.
Razek Shaaban, 33, and Azzam Ban, 38, of the Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza, met in an Israeli jail where they served sentences for security offenses.
Confiscated hand grenades and Israeli IDs (Photo: Shin Bet)
After his release, Shaaban met a Hamas commander in Gaza who ordered him to set up a terror cell in Ramallah. The cell's first mission would to kidnap an IDF soldier and detain him in a rented Ramallah flat.
Azzam and Shaaban had planned to meet a Palestinian illegal alien in Israel who would gather intelligence part of plans to carry out a terror attack.
Azzam was involved in a series of Hamas attack against Israeli targets, including road side bomb and Qassam attacks.
Suleiman Nassassra, 35, a third suspect from Taybeh was arrested for contacting a Palestinian illegal alien who instructed him to assist Azzam and Shaaban once they arrive in Israel from Egypt.
