The following has been cleared for publication: In a joint Shin Bet-Israel Police operation, seven residents of Jaljulia have been arrested in weeks on suspicion of trafficking in illegal war materiel.

One of the principal suspects is Mahmoud Muhammad Abdul Karim Daoud, born in 1996. During the investigation, it became clear that as a result of his involvement in weapons trafficking he had become aware of a terrorist attack being planned by two brothers from Jaljulia who were then arrested:

Adam Ismail Muhammad Faki, 25, was known to the Israel Police against the background of his involvement in criminal matters. Faras Ismail Muhammad Faki, 27, was known as a supporter of Islamic State and against the background of his involvement in security criminal matters.

It was learned that Adam Faki visited Gaza in December 2014 in order to attend a family wedding. During his visit, he was recruited to Hamas by his half-brother Muhammad – a Hamas member who resides in Gaza – and another Gaza-based Hamas member, Hassan Amatzi, and underwent military training including shooting. Also participating in this training was senior Hamas member Hassan Jabari, the brother of Ahmed Jabari, the head of the Hamas military wing, who was killed during Operation Protective Edge in 2012.

In April of this year, Adam Faki was asked by his half-brother Muhammad to advance an attack on an Israeli officer in revenge for the March 2017 death of senior Gaza-based Hamas member Mazan Fakha.

To this end, Adam Faki was asked by his half-brother to purchase weapons, select a target and recruit someone else to assist him in carrying out the attack. Adam Faki then contacted Jaljulia resident Yassin Ma’ari and attempted to buy from him two pistols and a silencer for use in the projected attack. An additional brother, Faras Faki, was arrested on suspicion of being aware of the planning and aiding Muhammad Faki in creating a secret channel of communications to Adam via his cellphone.

The foregoing underscores the risk reflected in the link between the criminal and security offense worlds, especially the transfer of war materiel from criminals to terrorists. This link constitutes a tangible danger.

The above also underscores how Hamas exploits Israel’s humanitarian policy vis-à-vis Gaza, including the exploitation of family visits, medical treatment and commerce for terrorist purposes.

The State Attorney’s Office filed four indictments against the suspects under anti-terrorism statutes.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)