Israel Says It Thwarted Dozens of Hamas-Directed Attacks Run From Turkey

Israel’s Shin Bet and the IDF said Sunday morning that they have blocked dozens of attacks over the past year that were directed by Hamas operatives based in Turkey. According to the agencies, Hamas’s West Bank network has long worked to promote and direct attacks against civilians and security forces across Judea and Samaria.

The statement said the network was previously led by Salah al-Arouri, who was killed after the October 7 attacks. Today, Zahar Jabarin heads the West Bank portfolio and Ayman Abu Khalil heads its military wing.

Over the past year, several investigations exposed Hamas members in Turkey who operate under the West Bank apparatus and advance military activity. The agencies named Ayman Sharouna as a Hamas operative who recruited activists and promoted terror activity. Mohammed Malah, originally from the Tulkarm area and dividing his time between Turkey and Qatar, helped transfer money for terrorism. Another operative, Majed Jaba, helped smuggle the weapon used in the November 2023 attack at the Tunnel checkpoint.

The Shin Bet and IDF also identified Walid Abu Nasser as having financed a terror infrastructure in Bethlehem, and Salam Yaish as having recruited terror operatives to carry out attacks. The agencies said these figures operate freely from Turkish territory and hold meetings with Hamas members in Judea and Samaria, using local infrastructure to pass instructions and money that are then used to plan and carry out attacks.