The IDF and ISA have uncovered Hamas terror assets in Hebron. The joint activity, which took place in recent months, prevented attacks that the group had been planning.
The assets were part of a Hamas attempt to establish a local headquarters in Hebron and included approximately 20 terrorists affiliated with Hamas. The group was planning to kidnap an IDF soldier and use her or him as a bargaining chip for the release of Hamas prisoners. Most of the terrorists were already known to authorities.
The terrorists included:
Nabil Taleb Mahmad Mahmmud Ouauda, 32, resident of Dura, previously jailed for involvement in terror activity and assisting suspects. Ouauda was the head of the terror cell. Mahmud Mahmad Mahmud Abu-varda, 34, resident of Fawwar, was previously jailed for involvement in terror activity. He had been transferring weaponry to other operatives. Tareq Aziz Issa Graib, 35, resident of Tarqumia, was a contact for operatives abroad.
The investigation concluded that the terrorists were assisted by Hamas operatives abroad, who provided them with guidance and funding. Their primary contact person abroad was Husam Badran, one of the prisoners released in the exchange that secured the return of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
In 2004, Badran was sentenced to 17 years of imprisonment for his involvement in the execution of terror attacks during the Second Intifada. Upon his release in October 2011, he was exiled to Qatar.
The investigation also revealed that the terrorists’ primary goal was to execute a kidnapping attack in order to bargain for the release of prisoners. They had planned to use an apartment as a hideout, and an Israeli citizen who would function as the driver during the kidnapping.
The terrorists were indicted on the following charges: possession of illegal weapons, contacting a hostile organization and conspiracy to kidnap an IDF soldier.