According to the multicount indictment handed down on Sunday 23 Nissan in the Beersheva District Court against Madhat Abu-Sneima, 24, a Negev resident, he is a member of Hamas and was involved in numerous acts of terror against Israelis civilian and security forces in the Gaza border area.

According to the prosecutor, the defendant has been a member of Hamas since 2007 and he was involved in monitoring IDF activities along the Gaza border, information he later used to plan terror attacks against IDF vehicle patrolling the area.

He reportedly was also involved in firing rockets at an IDF base after Operation Pillar of Defense ended in 2012 as well as mortar attacks in the Kerem Shalom Crossing area. in 2014 he also paid $7,000 for rights to a smuggling tunnel used to bring smuggled items between Egypt and Gaza. He allegedly smuggled uniforms for Hamas naval commandos and other military equipment into Gaza. He profited $2,000 monthly for permitting terrorists to use his tunnel for smuggling. That tunnel was eventually detected and destroyed by Egyptian authorities.

Charges against Abu Sneima include contacting a foreign agent, attempted murder, passing information to foreign agents with the intention of compromising state security, planning attacks, and membership in an illegal organization.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)