Shin Bet revokes entry permits for 230 relatives of Hamas members in Gaza

The Shin Bet security agency says Israel is revoking the entry permits to Israel from 230 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, relatives of Hamas members who allegedly worked to recruit West Bank Palestinians to help commit attacks.

In a statement, the Shin Bet says in recent weeks dozens of Palestinians had been arrested and questioned over their alleged ties with Hamas operatives in Gaza.

The agency says many of the young suspects were unaware that Hamas was using them to advance attacks against Israeli targets.

According to the Shin Bet, the Hamas operatives hid their real identities by masquerading as companies and other entities, while recruiting West Bank Palestinians for paid work.

The Palestinians in the West Bank would be tasked with transferring funds intended for purchasing weapons or delivering packages of weapons and ammunition, it says.

“All this is without the couriers being aware, in most cases, that they are transferring weapons or are involved in terror activity,” the Shin Bet says.

The agency says the operation was led by Farah Hamed, 45, a Hamas member from the West Bank town of Silwad who was deported to Gaza as part of the 2011 Shalit deal.