Several Israeli Arabs, including one based in Turkey, tried to supply arms and funds to terrorists in Judea and Samaria, the Israel Security Agency, or Shin Bet, said on Thursday.
The Shin Bet and police have in recent weeks arrested several Arab Israelis from Rahat and Kafr Qasim who are to be indicted for allegedly running a smuggling operation for Ahmed Tsartsur, an Israeli citizen from Kafr Qasim who lives in Turkey and is allegedly affiliated with Hamas, according to the statement.
The funds, to the tune of hundreds of thousands of shekels, may have been intended for terrorist attacks, the Shin Bet said. Tsartsur “used his family connections and friendships to establish a network for transferring arms and funds to Judea and Samaria,” according to the agency.
The money was transferred through cryptocurrency and then converted to cash that was used to purchase arms from dealers in the Negev, investigators said. The arms were then transferred to Judea and Samaria, according to the statement.
“This is a serious case that reveals how individuals in Turkey, including Arab Israelis and citizens naturalized under family reunification [laws], are using their contacts in Israel and access to Judea and Samaria to transfer arms and funds that may end up with terrorists,” the Shin Bet said.
