Beersheba – Israelis Charged For Smuggling Weapons-Making Material To Hamas

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    File: An Israeli security guard near trucks entering the Kerem Shalom terminal where goods are allowed to cross between southern Israel and the southern Gaza Strip.  EPA/YOSSI ZAMIR Beersheba – An Israeli-Palestinian smuggling ring funneled iron, electronic equipment and other prohibited materials to Gaza, bypassing Israel’s stringent border security to help Hamas rebuild its militant infrastructure following last year’s war, Israel said Monday.

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    Hamas, a bitter enemy of Israel’s, suffered heavy losses in last year’s 50-day war, in which Israel carried out some 5,000 airstrikes on targets throughout Gaza. Hamas fired thousands of rockets into Israel during the fighting, in which more than 2,200 Palestinians and 72 people on the Israeli side were killed.

    Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007 but is suffering from international isolation and a cash crunch, has been trying to rebuild itself since the fighting ended.

    Israel has charged nine people in the ring, among them three Jewish Israelis who own companies that sell the materials, with assisting an enemy in wartime, terror financing and fraud, among others. The remaining accused are Palestinians from Gaza.

    Israel’s internal security agency said the materials were smuggled on trucks through Kerem Shalom, the main cargo crossing between Israel and Gaza. The materials were listed as destined for straw companies and were hidden among other goods which are permitted to enter Gaza. It said the goods were delivered through Palestinian middle men.

    “In this way, large amounts of materials bought in Israel and smuggled to the Gaza Strip systematically and over time made their way to Hamas’ military infrastructure,” the Shin Bet said in a statement.

    The agency said at least $375,000 was paid to the Israeli players.

    Zion Amir, a lawyer for one of the Israelis, whose name wasn’t made public, said his client denied the charges. There was no immediate reaction from the other defendants or Hamas.

    Israel considers Hamas a terrorist group, and cases of Jewish Israelis collaborating with the group are extremely rare.


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    9 Comments
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    ShmutzVesh
    ShmutzVesh
    9 years ago

    Hang these animals.

    Barzilai
    Active Member
    Barzilai
    9 years ago

    Everyone reading this article is thinking “I hope it’s not (fill in a group you identify with)” and “I hope it’s (fill in a group you dislike.)”

    puppydogs
    puppydogs
    9 years ago

    Uh Oh, Where is AlterG & Yonosonw?

    9 years ago

    Deport them to live in Gaza.

    curious
    curious
    9 years ago

    Death penalty please!

    Benyeli
    Benyeli
    9 years ago

    What kind of punishment you give this people? Kaasher zamam?

    5TResident
    Noble Member
    5TResident
    9 years ago

    They should be shot for treason.