In the first instance of such a crime, The Haifa District Attorney’s Office is set to file a serious indictment this morning (Friday) against Rania Dandan, 51, an Arab-Israeli resident of Kiryat Motzkin, on charges of operating on behalf of Hamas and disseminating false, inciting propaganda on social media.
The case, which had been under a gag order until now, was first revealed by N12 following a joint security investigation conducted by the Shin Bet and the Israel Police’s anti-crime unit in the Asher District of the Coastal Region.
Dandan was arrested several weeks ago by Shin Bet and police on suspicion that she acted inside Israel on Hamas’ behalf over an extended period. According to investigators, she operated primarily in the digital arena, assisting in the promotion of Hamas propaganda messages. This included the use of fictitious online profiles and the dissemination of distorted and false information intended to influence public opinion and sow fear within Israeli society.
During her interrogation, Dandan reportedly admitted that she acted out of ideological motives, seeking to support what she described as “resistance” against the State of Israel in the context of the war in the Gaza Strip. Shin Bet said she knowingly acted for Hamas as part of an effort to advance the organization’s objectives during the ongoing conflict. Investigators further found that she assisted Hamas-linked fake profiles around the world in spreading false information “designed to instill fear in Israeli society.”
