Permission granted for publication: Hamas cell arrested in Qalqilya; one of them is Israeli

April 30, 2014   

Permission to publish: The General Security Service and the IDF arrested a Hamas-affiliated terrorist cell from the city of Qalqilya between December 2013 and March 2014. Their interrogation revealed that the members of the cell, who were involved, among other things, in the production of improvised explosive devices, were planning to carry out bomb and shooting attacks against Israeli targets. The detainees, including an Israeli citizen who lives alternately in Qalqilya and the village of Bara, are all residents of Qalqilya: Khaled Jamal Mahmoud Dawood, 21, an Israeli citizen. Abd al-Haq Mazen Yusuf Sharim Hadraj, 23. Abd al-Rahman Mazen Yusuf Sharim Hadraj, 23, Abd al-Haq's brother. Nimr Muhammad Nimr Atta, born in 1990. Khaled Bakri Ibrahim Abu Amra, 37. Ubi Abd al-Rahman Hashem Saleh, 24. Saleh Mustafa Asaad Dawood, 30, a prominent Hamas activist in the city of Qalqilya. During their interrogation by the General Security Service, evidence was obtained that the members of the cell had established a military cell with the aim of carrying out attacks on Israeli targets, with an emphasis on bomb and shooting attacks. The members of the cell were engaged in the production of improvised explosives from agricultural fertilizers, conducted experiments with the explosives they managed to prepare, including the explosion of an improvised explosive device, and also intended to purchase weapons originating in Israel. This was done through Khaled Dawood, the Israeli citizen, who was supposed to use his full access to Israel to obtain raw materials for the production of explosives and the purchase of standard weapons. The investigation also revealed that the members of the cell had contacted a prominent Hamas activist in Qalqilya, Saleh Dawood, who agreed to finance the cell's activities, and even suggested that its members seek the assistance of additional recruits known to him. Indictments will be filed against the detainees in the coming days. Prior to the arrest of the members of the cell by Israeli security forces, some of them were arrested and interrogated by Palestinian security forces, but were released to their homes, although an electrical device was seized in their possession, which was supposed to be used as a remote activation system for an explosive device. It should be noted that Khaled Daoud was already arrested in November 2013 for questioning, due to suspicion that he was involved in serious security offenses. At the end of his questioning, since not enough evidence had been collected against him to prosecute him, and in light of confidential information that indicated the risk arising from his release, the Minister of Defense ordered his administrative detention for a fixed period in December 2013. This administrative detention was also approved in the context of judicial review. In light of the findings of the investigation, sufficient evidence has been established to file an indictment against Khaled Daoud, and he was therefore arrested as part of the regular arrest procedures, and as mentioned, an indictment against him will be filed in the coming days, and the administrative arrest warrant in his case will be revoked. This investigation reveals, once again, the existing motivation on the ground to carry out attacks against Israelis, as well as the risk inherent in the recruitment of Israeli citizens by terrorist organizations for the purpose of carrying out attacks.