The Shin Bet cleared for publication on Thursday that it arrested a prominent Hamas activist in Gaza, who infiltrated into the occupied territories with the intention to capture an Israeli occupation soldier, murder him, and negotiate over the body.
This was not an isolated incident, the Israeli defense official warned on Friday. "The attempt along the Egyptian border to attack and abduct, which was foiled in December, was not a one-time procedure," said the official. "The terrorist organization won't hesitate at any chance to grab another bargaining chip against Israel."
According to the Shin Bet, the fighter arrested in December was named as Salman Abu Atik, a 43-year-old Gaza resident and a prominent Hamas official who was involved in arms smuggling in the past.
Shin Bet said that Atik was taking orders from another prominent Hamas man. It is believed that Atik exited Gaza through a tunnel into Egypt, where he attempted to enter the occupied territory. He was found in possession of $15,000 in counterfeit bills, a gun, and a silencer.
Following information released in Abu Atik's investigation, another Hamas man, Ibrahim Zuara, was arrested on December 31. Zuara, 44, was in possession of two explosive devices each weighing 31 kilograms.
Zuara was apparently supposed to place the devices in heavily populated areas ten days after his entrance into the Zionist entity. Zuara also confessed to his involvement in planning the soldier capture.
Israel is now in the midst of indirect negotiations with Hamas to see the release of Israeli occupation soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured in 2006. Despite reports of progress, the negotiations have so far not yielded results.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
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