Illustrative photo of Palestinian patient. (Edi Israel/Flash 90)
“This severe incident illustrates the cynical exploitation of Israel’s willingness to meet the humanitarian needs of Gaza’s residents,” the Shin Bet said.
Two Hamas terrorists were arrested by Israeli security services after posing as medical patients and utilizing Israel’s humanitarian support system in order to gain illegal entry into Israel, the Shin Bet stated Monday.
The two Hamas members were identified as Mahmoud Matuk, 30 from Jabalya in Gaza, and his 52-year-old father Ayoub.
They entered Israel on forged medical documents on January 7, which stated that Mahmoud was facing a total collapse of his systems if he did not receive treatment in a Jerusalem hospital. They received immediate access and were admitted by ambulance.
They escaped from the hospital the next day and traveled to the Israeli Arab city of Umm al-Fahm in northern Israel in perfect health, where they were arrested.
The Shin Bet did not state the objective of their illegal entry.
During their questioning the two said that a relative, Hassin Matuk, contacted a doctor in Gaza who supplied them with the forged medical documents.
They paid NIS 7,000 ($1,777) for the forged documents, which stated that Mahmoud was paralyzed and required immediate treatment.
They also divulged the details of other Gazans who have used this method to gain illegal entry into Israel.
The two were indicted at a Be’er Sheva court on Monday and were charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, fraud under severe circumstances and illegal entry into Israel.
“This severe incident illustrates the cynical exploitation of Israel’s willingness to meet the humanitarian needs of Gaza’s residents, which could lead to a tightening of entry regulations, and ultimately to the harming the Gaza’s residents,” the Shin Bet said in statement.
Israel has recently warned Hamas, which rules the Strip, against exploiting the entry of Palestinians in to Israel, which may force Israel to block entry to Gaza residents seeking medical care or business opportunities if Hamas continues to recruit them for terror missions.
Israel has previously uncovered several similar incidents of Palestinians exploiting Israel’s humanitarian efforts for terror purposes.
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