By Michael Zeff/TPS
An Israeli Arab Hamas activist was indicted in a Beer Sheva courtroom today on multiple national security charges, announced the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency.
Medhat Abu-Sneimeh, a 24-year-old resident of the Negev in southern Israel is facing 18 different criminal charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, membership in a banned organization, contact with an enemy agent and other national security offenses.
According to the indictment, Abu-Sneimeh voluntarily joined the Hamas organization in 2007 and has since received combat and weapons training by the terrorist group. During his Hamas activity, Abu-Sneimeh has participated in several attacks against IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians on the Gaza border, the indictment alleges.
Abu-Sneimeh’s combat record allegedly includes reconnaissance missions on IDF movements along the Gaza border, setting up explosive devices on the Israeli side, and even firing rockets and mortars into Israel from Gaza.
The Shin Bet and Israel Police investigation additionally revealed that as of 2014 Abu-Sneimeh has operated a smuggling tunnel connecting the Gazan and Egyptian parts of the border city Rafah. According to the indictment, the tunnel was used to smuggle military equipment, uniforms, and weapons to Gaza from Egypt. The smuggling activity stopped after the Egyptian military flooded the tunnel and destroyed it in early 2016.