It was released for publication that in recent weeks Ahmed Mahmoud Abu Salah, 24 years old, was arrested for investigation by the General Security Service after returning from a long period of academic studies in Turkey.
During Ahmed's Shin Bet investigation, it emerged that during his stay in Turkey, he was recruited into the terrorist organization Hamas, with the assistance of a Hamas operative, Iyad A'adin Akre, and carried out military training in Turkey and Syria, which included weapons training and learning how to manufacture explosives, in order to promote attacks against the State of Israel.
Before Ahmed's return to Israel, he met in Turkey with senior Hamas official Azzam Akre, who asked him to receive weapons and funds, to recruit additional terrorist operatives, and indeed for the purpose of establishing terrorist squads as an infrastructure to carry out attacks.
Following Ahmed's arrest, with the cooperation of the IDF for the Shin Bet's investigation, three additional residents of Ayush were arrested - Uys Mahmoud Abu Salah, about 20 years old, Saleh Mahmoud Abu Salah, about 23 years old, Hossein Foaz Akre, about 25 years old.
In the investigation of the three, it became clear that Uys and Hossein expressed their agreement to enlist in Hamas and even undergo training in the Gaza Strip. It was also learned that Uys planned to carry out several terrorist attacks, including a bomb attack together with Salah, and that all three of them were involved in throwing stones at policemen at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in April 2022 during Ramadan.
At the end of the investigation, indictments were filed against the four, accusing them of serious security offenses.
The investigation also revealed that the four were in contact in Turkey with their relative, Abada Abu Salah, the son of a senior Hamas official in Turkey, Salah Abu Salah.
Abada, acting under the direction of senior Hamas officials in Turkey, with an emphasis on Saleh Al-Aruri, the head of the West Bank in Hamas, took advantage of the family connection with the accused and their stay in Turkey for the purpose of studies in order to recruit some of them to the terrorist organization Hamas, as mentioned.
The General Security Service views seriously the attempts of the Hamas organization abroad to recruit young residents of Iosh, who go to academic studies abroad, for the purpose of terrorist activity against the State of Israel, and it will continue to work together with the IDF and the Israel Police to thwart activities that endanger the security of the state.