Shin Bet thwarts Turkish-led Hamas-linked terror network funneling weapons, funds into West Bank

The suspects were arrested in joint operations with Israel Police, and indictments are expected to be filed in the coming days, the agency said.

The Shin Bet on Thursday uncovered a network of Israeli citizens from Kafr Kassem and Rahat who, allegedly, acting on behalf of Hamas, moved weapons and funds into the West Bank in recent weeks.

The network operated under the direction of Ahmed Tzarzur, an Israeli citizen living in Turkey, the Shin Bet noted.

The suspects were arrested in joint operations with the Israel Police, and indictments are expected to be filed in the coming days, the agency said.

According to the investigation, Tzarzur, originally from Kafr Kassem and now based in Turkey, leveraged family and social ties to recruit locals and build a clandestine transfer route for arms and money into the West Bank.

The Shin Bet said the funds, totaling hundreds of thousands of shekels, were intended to reach terrorist operatives to facilitate attacks.

The agency said the money was sent from Turkey to Israel in cryptocurrencies, then converted by Israeli money changers into cash used to purchase weapons from dealers in the Negev. The weapons were then smuggled to the West Bank.

Several Israeli citizens have been detained for questioning in recent weeks, the Shin Bet said, adding that it views Israeli involvement in terror activity with the utmost severity and will act to thwart threats and prosecute all those involved.

This news came shortly after the reveal that there are no Palestinian fugitives who murdered Israelis left walking free in the West Bank.