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Steven Emerson,
Executive Director
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May 11, 2015
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Report:
Hamas Recruiting Students in Malaysia, Training Terrorists in Turkey
by IPT News • May 11, 2015 at
2:20 pm
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Hamas is actively recruiting Palestinians studying in Malaysia to join
the terrorist organization, according to an indictment of Hamas operative
Waseem Qawasmeh, the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information
Center (ITIC) reports. In a separate instance, a captured Hamas
terrorist told interrogators he was sent to Malaysia, along with nine
others, in order to train using hang gliders for conducting a terrorist
attack against Israel.
Qawasmeh was charged in March with working with a banned
organization and receiving money from it. In his indictment, prosecutors allege
that Hamas directs Palestinian students and lecturers to engage in
significant cultural and social activities at the International Islamic
University Malaysia. Through these activities, Hamas operatives recruit and
finance people to train in Turkey for future deployment to the West Bank
and carry out attacks against Israel.
Israel's domestic intelligence agency believes that 40 Palestinian
students were recruited to Hamas' military wing this way.
Qawasmeh's indictment refers to Hamas operating bases in Malaysia and
Turkey and says Qawasmeh pledged allegiance to the group in December 2013.
Ma'an Khatib, a university professor who is responsible for Hamas'
operations in Malaysia, allegedly was present for the ceremony. Last year,
Qawasmeh participated in Hamas' social activities program and was recruited
to the Muslim Brotherhood by Mustafa Nijm, the head of Hamas' da'wah
(Islamic outreach) committee at the Malaysian university.
Malaysian officials deny the allegations, but ITIC assessments accuse
local Malaysian authorities of allowing Hamas to operate in the university.
Qawasmeh also received funds from another Hamas recruiter and was
subsequently encouraged to partake in a Hamas financed training course in
Turkey. After their training, recruits are sent to the West Bank to join
Hamas' terrorist infrastructure in the Palestinian territory and carry out
orders directed by senior Hamas officials in Turkey.
Hamas' international terrorist headquarters are based in Turkey and led by Salah Al-Arouri, a senior
member responsible for enhancing Hamas operations in the West Bank. Last
year, Israel uncovered an extensive Hamas plot to overthrow the Palestinian Authority in the West
Bank, orchestrated by Al-Arouri and other terrorist officials in Turkey.
Al-Arouri's Hamas connection and activities are well known to U.S. law enforcement officials.
Turkey, a NATO-member, openly supports Hamas politically and financially. It remains
to be seen whether the United States or other members of the Western
security alliance will apply pressure on Turkey to cease backing a
designated terrorist organization committed to the destruction of Israel.
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