Hamas recruited women from Hebron for terror network
Women's chapter of the network, led by wife of terrorist who murdered 4 Israelis, was entrusted with conveying intelligence, money laundering; Shin Bet: network sought to take control of municipal system and charitable institutions in Hebron.
The Shin Bet, IDF, and Israel Police have uncovered a large Hamas terror network in Hebron in recent weeks, the Shin Bet has cleared for publication Tuesday.
The terror cell, which included women, worked to covertly convey intelligence and raise funds from the organization's headquarters abroad.
According to the Shin Bet, the funds were intended to finance terror attacks, recruit agents, coordinate activities in mosques, provide aid to families of security prisoners, and finance propaganda and incitement online.
The first indictments in the case have already been filed to the Judea Military Court, with the main charge being membership and holding a position in an illegal organization.
The network's activity has expanded in recent years and included the recruitment of dozens of women, some of whom were sent to meet with operatives abroad as well as receive funds and instructions from the deportees of the Gilad Shalit deal, including the terrorist Nasser Adin, who resides in Turkey.
In general, Hamas, an extremist religious terrorist organization, does not use women for its military activities. In this case, it appears women were used mainly for intelligence collection and for money laundering.
The cell was headed by Nizar Shehadeh and Faras Abu Sharah, senior Hamas officials who have previously served prison terms in Israel. According to the Shin Bet, the two utilized the women to transmit encrypted messages in secret.
The network reportedly planned to take control of the Hebron municipality as well as the charitable institutions in the largest Palestinian city in the West Bank, which has long been considered a Hamas stronghold.
The women’s chapter of the network was headed by Dina al-Sa'id, the wife of the terrorist Nashat al-Karmi, who carried out an attack in 2010, murdering four Israelis. Karmi himself was killed during a shootout with security forces.
