Israel shut down the local offices of the Islamic Movement’s Al-Aksa organization.
Police and Shin Bet internal security officers raided the offices in the Arab community of Umm al-Fahm in northern Israel on orders from Defense Minister Ehud Barak. The orders were based on intelligence information that the group had financial and logistical ties to the Hamas headquarters in eastern Jerusalem.
Computers, documents, money and a safe were confiscated, as well as books and flyers containing incitement against the state, the Jerusalem Post reported. Several of the organization’s bank accounts were frozen.
After a Shin Bet examination of the material, the police will decide whether to launch an investigation against the organization.
The Islamic Movement in a statement denied any connection to Hamas.
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