Shin Bet and the IDF said they disrupted dozens of attacks over the past year that were directed by Hamas operatives based in Turkey, and released details of what they described as key figures in the network. According to the announcement, Hamas’s West Bank branch has been responsible for advancing and directing attacks against civilians and security forces across Judea and Samaria, while also recruiting operatives, moving weapons, and transferring money from Turkey to the field.
The agencies said the activity intensified over the past year and was conducted from Turkish territory without interference. They said the network held meetings with operatives from Judea and Samaria and used infrastructure in Turkey to pass instructions and funds that were then used to promote military activity and carry out attacks.
Among the Hamas members identified were Zaher Jabarin, described as head of the West Bank branch, and Ayman Abu Khalil, described as head of its military wing. Other figures named were Ayman Sharouna, who allegedly recruited operatives and promoted terror activity from Turkey, and Muhammad Malah, originally from the Tulkarm area, who splits his time between Turkey and Qatar and allegedly helped transfer funds for terrorism.
The statement also named Majed Jaaba, accused of helping smuggle the weapon used in the November 2023 Tunnel Checkpoint attack, Walid Abu Nassar, who allegedly financed a terror cell in Bethlehem, and Salam Yaish, who allegedly recruited terror operatives for attacks. Shin Bet and the IDF said they view any contact with Hamas terror elements and involvement in transferring money or weapons to West Bank terror infrastructure as extremely serious, and said they will continue working to foil threats and protect Israel’s residents and the state.
