A Palestinian infiltrator admitted he was part of a Hamas squad that planned to kidnap an Israeli soldier and take him to Gaza.
The 21-year-old from Rafah was arrested by the Israel Defense Forces and General Security Service on Sept. 21, according to an IDF spokesman, who cleared the information for publication on Sunday.
Gammal A’atalla Sabah Abu Duaba was indicted Sunday in the Beersheva District Regional Court.
Abu Duaba, who crossed into Israel through Egypt, said he was sent to Israel by senior members of Hamas who trained him and his squad, and funded their operations, according to the spokesman. His
squad intended to kidnap Israeli soldiers and smuggle them through Egypt into Gaza in order to use them as leverage in negotiations for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Sleeping pills found in Abu Duaba’s bag were to be used to anesthetize the soldiers and allow their kidnapping without resistance.
Also Sunday, a 20-year-old Arab attempted to stab an Israel Nature and National Parks employee near the Mount of Olives. Police are investigating whether the assailant is a resident of east Jerusalem or a Palestinian.
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