The following has been cleared for publication:

The Israel Security Agency (ISA) has uncovered an attempt to infiltrate into Israel an explosives expert who was trained by the Hamas military wing over the course of approximately one year in order to establish an explosives lab in Judea and Samaria that would produce IEDs for use in terrorist attacks in Israel. The explosives expert entered Israel on a humanitarian permit in order to receive medical treatment.

In recent months, the ISA has also thwarted attempts by the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip to establish a number of terrorist cells throughout Judea and Samaria in order to carry out terrorist attacks.

This activity was exposed following a series of recent arrests of militants who had been recruited by the military wing of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Fadi Abu al-Sabah – Explosives expert who entered Israel by exploiting a humanitarian permit

Fadi Abu al-Sabah, 35, a resident of Nusseirat in the Gaza Strip, was arrested in Taibeh on 18 May 2019 by the ISA and the Israel Police.

Fadi Abu al-Sabah was recruited into the Hamas military wing in July 2018, in order to establish a lab for the production of explosives to be used in severe terrorist attacks the goal of which was to kill Israelis. He underwent intensive military training that prepared him to manufacture explosive materials and IEDs. He was also trained how to pass the questioning at Erez Crossing and interrogation by the ISA, and was instructed to deny knowing his Gaza-based handlers and trainers.

Fadi was recruited by Ashraf Sabah, 37, a Hamas militant from the Gaza Strip, who was released from an Israeli prison in 2015 after having served 12 years’ imprisonment for involvement in bomb attacks against IDF forces along the Gaza Strip border and for planning additional attacks.

ISA and Israel Police investigations have revealed that in July 2018 Fadi was first contacted by Ashraf Sabah after the latter heard that he was in the process of applying for a humanitarian permit to receive medical treatment in Judea and Samaria. The goal of contacting Fadi was to exploit the entry permit in order to advance terrorist activity.

In July-September 2018, Fadi met secretly with Izzedine al-Qassam militants who trained him in explosives in order for him to establish an explosives lab, manufacture IEDs and train additional militants in Judea and Samaria.

The secret meetings were held at the home of Matsab Hasalmon, a member of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, who was expelled in the Shalit deal, and in the presence of Ashraf Sabah, his brother Hassan Sabah and additional Hamas terrorists.

It was also learned that before leaving to receive medical treatment, Fadi received from Ashraf a coat with a hidden piece of cloth upon which were written code words for encrypted communication between the military wing of Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the recruits in Judea and Samaria for use in planning and carrying out terrorist attacks against Israeli targets.

Fadi was told to deliver the coat upon passing through the Erez Crossing in September 2018 in order to receive medical treatment in Jordan but was unable to do so.

Prior to his most recent entry into Israel (May 2019), Fadi contacted a doctor in Gaza and paid her to prepare false documents purporting to show that he could not receive proper treatment in the Gaza Strip to help ensure that he would receive a permit for treatment in Israel.

Upon receiving the permits, Fadi underwent training in the preparation of explosives so that he might be proficient enough to train additional militants in Judea and Samaria.

On 15 May 2019, Fadi went to the Erez Crossing carrying a bag containing the aforesaid coat with the hidden piece of cloth. He exploited the humanitarian permit he had received to enter Israel in order to receive medical treatment in Hebron. Instead, he joined up with elements in Hebron in order to advance terrorist activities and carry out his mission.

As mentioned above, he was arrested in a joint ISA-Israel Police operation on 18 May shortly after entering Taibeh in Israel. With him were also arrested several Gazans who were present in Israel illegally and who were suspected of either assisting him or knowing about his activities. These suspicions were seen to be unfounded and they were released.

Following his investigation, a severe indictment was filed against Fadi in Judea Military Court.​