Court tells Shin Bet to charge or release Canadian-Palestinian businessman

An Israeli court on Thursday told the Shin Bet security service it had six days to charge a wealthy Canadian-Jordanian businessman or release him from custody, his lawyer said.

Ibrahim Siyyam was detained by the Shin Bet upon trying to return to Jordan from the West Bank with a group of businessmen last month.

Avi Baram, who is representing Siyyam, told AFP he was being held over alleged ties to terror group Hamas, the de facto rulers of the Gaza Strip — claims his client denies.

“The Israeli security services are accusing him of donating money to Hamas in Yarmouk refugee camp but he denies it,” Baram said, referring to a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Damascus.

The camp has been rocked by deadly fighting between Islamic State group jihadists and Palestinian militants, including Aknaf Beit al-Maqdis group which is said to be backed by Hamas.

“He said he donated money to Yarmouk refugee camp. How could he know which family received his money and whom they support?,” said Baram.

“They have also accused him of donating money to Hamas in Gaza which he also denies,” said Baram. “He told them he donated to Gaza through the Palestinian Authority; if they consider the Palestinian Authority to be Hamas then that is another matter.”

According to Baram, Siyyam — who is of Palestinian origin but left the West Bank decades ago, taking up citizenship in Canada and Jordan — had arrived in West Bank city Ramallah on May 1 for a conference.

Palestinian sources said Siyyam had been travelling with a group of wealthy businessmen to attend a top-level investment conference.

He was arrested on May 5 on his way back to Jordan.

Siyyam’s Thursday hearing was held at a court in the Kishon prison in northern Israel.

Representatives from the Jordanian and Canadian embassies have visited him.

A spokesman for the Shin Bet told AFP Siyyam’s interrogation was continuing, refusing to divulge further details.