Israeli Hamas members detained in east Jerusalem
Shin Bet and Israel Police forces recently apprehended 11 members of Islamist group in capital. Security officials say Hamas looking to take advantage of Palestinians with Israeli identity cards to initiate subversive activity, plan future military operations
Shin Bet and Israel Police forces have recently apprehended 11 Hamas members in east Jerusalem, it was cleared for publication Monday.
The detainees, 10 of whom hold Israeli (blue) identification cards, recruited members on Hamas’ behalf for future military operations, including on the Temple Mount, under the guise of social-religious activity.
In the past few years Hamas has secretly been working in east Jerusalem with the aim of bolstering its position in the capital. It has also been looking to garner support from the capital’s Palestinian residents, and present itself as an alternative to Israeli rule and recruit as many young men as possible.
A senior Shin Bet official said Hamas was trying to take advantage of the fact that Palestinians with blue identity cards were free to move about throughout Israel, as well having a good understanding of the Israeli mentality.
The Shin Bet’s surveillance of Hamas’ activity in Jerusalem revealed that the group was also providing help for the needy and conducting secret activities in mosques.
According to the Israeli security service, the Islamist group is also working to gain control over the Temple Mount complex by initiating construction projects in the area and holding religious classes in nearby mosques.
'It could have lead to a harsh blow'
During the investigation a number of routes Hamas used to transfer money from abroad were uncovered and some $94,000 in smuggled funds were confiscated.
After the arrests, a Shin Bet official said that Hamas headquarters abroad, especially Syria and Saudi Arabia, were behind the whole organization.
During the Jerusalem operation, the forces uncovered Hamas institutions and iIntelligence enabling the institutions in question to be outlawed was also collected.
The prominent detainees include 47-year-old businessman Amin Sweeni who was responsible for Hamas activity in Jerusalem and was involved in transferring the organization's money.
Also detained was 39-year-old teacher Nasser Yaakub Abu S'ood, who was involved in money transfers and Hamas activity on the Temple Mount.
The State Prosecutor's Office is expected to demand all the detainees be prosecuted for membership in a terror organization.
A senior Shin Bet official said that although the detainees were not activists and were not involved in using weapons or explosive belts, they had set up an infrastructure and were determined to use it.
"If it wasn't for this operation – it could have lead to a harsh blow to Israel in the future," he said.
"The operation hurt Hamas in this aspect, but we cannot blink or stop for a minute, and we must continue and maintain these achievements."
