Israel's Security Agency (Shin Bet) has accused Hamas of recruiting Israeli-Arabs to carry out operations against Israel.
On February 17, the Shin Bet, in a joint operation with Israel Police, arrested Aya Khatib, 31, a resident of the northwestern village of Arara. She is Palestinian holding Israeli citizenship.
Khatib, a mother of two, was recruited by Gazan Hamas operatives Mohammed Filfel, 29, a resident of Beit Lahiya, and Mahmoud Halawa, 32, from Jabaliya. According to Shin Bet, both operatives ordered her to gather information to help carry out terrorist attacks against Israeli targets.
She was also recruited to carry out missions for Hamas including financing the group’s terrorist operations and infrastructure.
The Agency also claimed that Khatib was engaged in humanitarian activities to help needy Gazans. The agency accused her of providing the terrorist groups with hundreds of thousands of shekels by scamming aid organizations and innocent civilians.
“Part of the money which Khatib transferred to Hamas operatives was for clear terrorist purposes, including helping to build tunnels, build a lathe and erect structures for Hamas’s ongoing activities,” the Shin Bet said.
Khatib is said to have given Hamas equipment for military operatives as well as examining options on how to transfer sensitive equipment that could be used to build tunnels and observe Israeli army forces, it added.
The findings of the Shin Bet probe also showed that Khatib provided Hamas with information about military forces’ movements during one of the rounds of fighting with the Gaza Strip.
On Sunday, the Haifa District Court extended Khatib’s detention period until next Wednesday, on charges of cooperation and intelligence with al-Qassam brigades.
The Israeli Public Prosecution submitted Monday the prosecutor's statement to the court. Khatib's lawyer said she denies the charges attributed to her.
Khatib has complained about the conditions of her arrest before the court, which ordered that this matter be examined, her lawyer noted.
The court also allowed her two children to meet her.
Khatib has been active on her Facebook page to collect donations for patients, particularly children from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, who are receiving treatments in Israeli hospitals.
She also collected donations for male and female university students whose economic conditions prevented them from paying their university fees.
