Knesset Security Committee to Hold Urgent Hearing Over Alleged Abbas-Hamas Links

The Knesset National Security Committee will convene an emergency session on Monday at 12:00 to discuss allegations involving Ra'am chairman MK Mansour Abbas and Hamas leadership abroad. Committee chair MK Zvika Fogel ordered the hearing after an investigation aired by Channel 14 raised questions about Abbas's reported participation in a 2018 conference in Istanbul with senior figures from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

According to the notice issued for the session, the topic is described as a “urgent discussion following Channel 14’s exposure: suspicion of a meeting with a foreign agent between MK Mansour Abbas and Hamas leadership abroad.” The invitation list includes the Prime Minister’s Office, the Shin Bet, the Ministry of National Security, Israel Police, and other bodies.

The report stems from an investigation by the “Choosing Life Forum,” which Channel 14 said showed clear documentation that Abbas attended the Istanbul event in 2018. The broadcast claimed that senior representatives of Hamas and Islamic Jihad were also present at the conference in Turkey.

The matter has now moved from the media into the Knesset, where lawmakers and security officials are expected to examine the allegations next week. No response from Abbas was included in the report.