The ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) reports the arrest of 30-year-old Gazan resident Mahmud Matuq, a member of Hamas who resides in Jabalya along with Ayoub Matuq, 51, also from Jabalya. The two succeeded in entering Israel Gaza by using forged medical documents that they purchased in Gaza.

On January 7, 2016 the two entered Israel after presenting medical documentation attesting to Mahmud’s difficult situation and the need to be immediately admitted to Mukassed Hospital in eastern Jerusalem. The transport was done by ambulance due to the seriousness of his situation.

The next day the two left the hospital and traveled to the Israeli Arab municipality of Um el-Fahm. The ISA reports that they paid NIS 7,000 to a doctor for the forged medical papers which documented Mahmud was not ambulatory and required an ambulance to transport him from the border to Jerusalem in an expeditious fashion.

On February 1, 2016 indictments were handed down against the two in the Beersheva Magistrate Court including charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, entering Israel illegally and fraud.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)