Hamas operatives pose as medical patients to infiltrate Israel
Both men were from the Jabalya refugee camp located in the northern Gaza Strip.
By ZACK PYZER, DANIEL J. ROTHUpdated: FEBRUARY 1, 2016 21:33MDA crews evacuate wounded Palestinian from Gaza to Ben-Gurion Airoport for medical evacuation to Turkey. (photo credit: KOBI GIDEON/GPO)
Israel Police and Shin Bet [Israel Security Agency] arrested two Hamas operatives who had entered Israel from Gaza on forged medical documents. The pair were arrested on January 7, however, the information was only cleared for release on Monday.After entering Israel, Mahmoud Matok, 31, along with his father, 51, escaped from hospital and traveled to Umm al-Fahm in northern Israel, where they were arrested.Both men hailed from the Jabalya refugee camp located in the northern Gaza Strip.A source in the Shin Bet said, "This is aserious incidentthat illustratesthecynical exploitationofIsrael's willingnessto meet the humanitarian needs of Gaza's residents,which couldlead toa tighteningof entry regulations, andultimatelyharm the residentsof the Gaza Strip."The two confessed under interrogation to forging the medical records by using a relative's medical condition as a pretext for their entry, with the younger Matok assuming the relative's identity. According to Shin Bet, the two had paid NIS 7,000 for the forged documents, which stated that the younger Matok suffered from paralysis of the legs and required emergency medical attention in Israel.The Beersheba Magistrate's Court charged the two with conspiracy to commit an illegal act, fraud and illegally entering Israel under false circumstances.
