Israel foils Hamas attempt to smuggle funds for terrorism

The Shin Bet has exposed several cases of Hamas exploitation of Israeli humanitarian relief in order to build its terror infrastructure.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

Recent operations by Israeli security forces have uncovered several cases that underscore the continuing efforts by terrorist organizations to transfer funds and war material into Israel by exploiting the humanitarian relief that the State of Israel provides to the Palestinian population, the Shin Bet (Israel’s Security Agency) stated on Tuesday.

For example, the Shin Bet pointed to the case of Ez Aldin Darabiyeh, 22, a resident of Hebron, who was recently arrested at the Allenby Crossing from Jordan while attempting to smuggle approximately 10,000 Jordanian dinars (approximately NIS 51,400, or $14,100) from Hamas, meant to finance its terror activities in Judea and Samaria.

Similarly, in September, the Shin Bet arrested Bashir Mahmoud Younis Mustafa, a resident of the Gaza Strip and a holder of an Israel transit permit, on charges that he had served as a courier for Hamas and transferred funds for them to terror elements.

Mustafa transferred $50,000 from Hamas in Gaza to organizations with ties to the terror organization in Hebron.

In a recent case, security inspectors found explosives in the possession of two sisters, residents of Gaza, who were granted permission to enter Israel on humanitarian grounds in order to receive treatment for cancer.

The explosives, used to produce bombs, were hidden in tubes labeled “medical materials.”

“The security forces will continue their efforts to uncover and foil plans by terrorist organizations to smuggle – through border crossings – funds and other means for use in terrorist operations, without impairing activity at the crossings or endangering employees,” the Shin Bet stated.