Israeli security busts Hamas cell receiving funds from Turkey
Israeli security forces dismantled a terror cell operating in Shechem (Nablus) under the direction and financial support of Hamas headquarters in Turkey, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) said on Monday.
Embassy of Turkey in Israel
“The investigation by the Shin Bet and the police revealed that the cell operated under the direct direction of the Hamas terrorist organization from within Turkey, with the suspects receiving funding of tens of thousands of dollars for the purpose of carrying out attacks against security forces and other targets in the Judea and Samaria region,” the Shin Bet said.
Security forces arrested six Palestinian suspects in January and February accused of planning and executing shooting and explosive attacks. The investigation revealed that they received tens of thousands of dollars from Hamas operatives in Turkey to carry out attacks against security forces and other targets in Judea and Samaria.
Security forces seized an M-16 rifle and approximately $40,000 in cash during the arrest of three of the suspects on January 29. Another suspect later surrendered an additional $20,000. Following these arrests, three more individuals were taken into custody.
Interrogation of the suspects led to the discovery of an explosive device hidden by a traffic junction near the Palestinian village of Jit. The device, concealed in a large metal case, was destroyed in a controlled detonation.
The Hamas terror cell is not the first linked to Turkey.
An August 2024 suicide bombing attack in Tel Aviv was masterminded by Hamas operatives based in Turkey.
Israeli authorities broke up a terror cell made up of Palestinian college students at Bir Zeit University near Ramallah planning a major terror attack with instructions and funding from Hamas figures in Turkey. A rifle and tens of thousands of dollars were confiscated.
In March 2024, Israeli authorities thwarted a deadly terror attack directed from Hamas’ offices in Turkey as security forces seized a 12-kilogram explosive device.
Turkey’s ruling AKP Party is ideologically close to the Muslim Brotherhood and to Hamas, which is the Brotherhood’s Palestinian affiliate. Several senior Hamas operatives are based in Turkey with the blessings of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Since Hamas’ October 7 attack, Israeli forces have arrested 6,000 wanted Palestinians in counterterror operations in Judea and Samaria. Around 40 percent were affiliated with Hamas.
