​ (Communicated by the ISA)
 
 
The following has been received from the investigation of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip who have been arrested upon infiltrating into Israel:
 
Yahiya Eijle
 
Yahiya Eijle, 19, a resident of Gaza City and Hamas member, was arrested on 29 April 2018 while making his way into Israel to steal a security camera and cut the Gaza Strip fence. From his investigation it was learned:
 
1. Hamas is instructing its activists to cut the fence and steal security cameras in order to sabotage and topple the fence and disrupt IDF activity ahead of "Nakba Day."
 
2. Hamas in the Gaza Strip wants the activity to be seen in the international media as a popular uprising, and not as violent action led by its militants.
 
3. Hamas militants, who are embedded among the residents of the Gaza Strip, are taking an active part in the violent protest activities along the fence every Friday in part by wielding firebombs, knives and large wire-cutters.
 
4. Hamas members supply Gaza Strip residents with tires and assist them in setting them on fire in order to create thick smoke to agitate residents and persuade them to infiltrate into Israeli territory, throw firebombs and prepare kite-borne firebombs to be handed over to violent militants.
 
It has also been learned that Hamas terrorists themselves are prohibited from approaching the fence lest they be killed or captured by the IDF. However, ifs the fence is breached, then they are to enter Israeli territory armed – under cover of the mob – and carry out attacks.
 
Salem Abu Daher
 
Salim Abu Daher, 21, a resident of the Gaza Strip, was arrested on 28 April 2018 upon infiltrating into Israel in order to burn fields and groves.
 
From his investigation it was learned that Hamas is financing the violent action in the framework of which kite-borne firebombs are sent toward Israeli territory. Hamas members in civilian clothing circulate among violent activists and supply gasoline for the kite-borne firebombs which are designed to ignite and burn Israeli fields.
 
* Another detainee said that Hamas encourages children and young people to cross the fence.
 
* Three Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip were arrested by the IDF on 4 May 2018 after crossing the fence into Israeli territory. One of the infiltrators told his ISA investigators that Hamas militants in civilian clothes encourage children to try and cross the fence in order to steal IDF equipment. Thus the event on 4 May in which a 13-year-old youth was wounded while taking part in an attempt to infiltrate into Israeli territory in order to steal a security camera at Karni Crossing, east of Gaza City.
 
The foregoing attests to the cynical and potentially life-threatening exploitation of innocent children and civilians by Hamas in order to vandalize and steal civilian and security equipment / infrastructures on sovereign Israeli territory.
 
The IDF and the ISA will continue to defend the security of Israeli citizens and sovereignty and, to this end, will take resolute action to thwart attempts to infiltrate into Israeli territory.