Two Palestinian fishermen convicted of introducing hundreds of kilograms of explosives into Gaza

A district court in Beer Sheva has sentenced eight fishermen from the Gaza Strip, who smuggled dozens of bags containing hundreds of kilograms of explosives, to eight and thirteen years' imprisonment respectively. coastal enclave.. According to the indictment, one of the accused also had the intention of committing a suicide bombing. To that end, he armed himself with hand grenades and made observations at the border with Israel.

The indictment states that both fishermen Hamis Araishi and Mamduj Bashar, executed the smuggled explosives after establishing links with Fadi Bachar, whose trial is continuing. Arashi decided in 2014 that he was interested in a suicide bombing. During Operation Protective Edge, the war in Gaza the same year, Araishi understood that the place where he wanted to commit the suicide bombing had been discovered by the Israel Defense Forces and had then decided to give up his attempt. The two detainees confessed and were convicted on four charges under an agreement with the prosecutor's office.

The court noted in the decision that "Gaza is fertile ground for terrorist acts against Israeland the various organizations are united in their constant desire to improve the means of committing terrorist attacks in Israel and are doing everything in their power to equip weapons of mbad destruction and sabotage. by various means, including the sea. The efforts of the defense authorities to prevent the smuggling of arms are not always successful and the risk inherent in the actions of the accused is high. "

The district court also imposed a 23-month prison sentence on another fisherman, Muhammad Riallah. According to the indictment, Riallah reportedly reported to Hamas maritime police officials in five cases the movements of Israeli Defense Forces ships. He also participated in three flotillas of the "March of Return", in which Palestinian flags were suspended and tires burned.