From the Liveblog of
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Two Palestinians indicted for infiltrating from Gaza
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Two Palestinian men from the Gaza Strip who attempted to infiltrate into Israel in late April have been indicted.
One of the men, Baha Abu Dahr, 31, is also accused of being a member of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) terror group.
According to the indictment, on April 30, Abu Dahr and his neighbor from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, Yasser Abu Madif, arrived at the border with bolt cutters and a Palestinian flag.
The pair cut through the first fence, before being detained by Israeli troops in the buffer zone.
The indictment said Abu Dahr joined the DFLP in 2007, and until 2014 was involved in guard duties in the event of an Israeli incursion. Between 2012 and the date of his arrest, Abu Dahr would observe Israeli military activity on the border and report his findings to DFLP commanders, the indictment read.
Abu Dahr is charged with membership in a terror group, weapons offenses, providing information to the enemy, infiltration, and damaging property.
Abu Madif is only charged with infiltration and damaging property.
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip frequently attempt to illegally enter Israeli territory, often with hopes of fleeing the beleaguered enclave.
