JERUSALEM—Twenty-six men were convicted in Egypt on April 28 of planning to attack and kidnap Israeli tourists in the Sinai Peninsula. The group of men, a cell of the Hezbollah terrorist group, was also planning to fire on ships going through the Suez Canal, and smuggle people, weapons, and supplies to the Gaza Strip through tunnels.
The men, who are Lebanese, Palestinians, Egyptians, and one Sudanese, were tried and convicted by Judge Adel Abdel Salam Gomaa of Egypt’s emergency state security court. Their prison terms range from six months to 25 years.
According to the Egyptian Gazette, the detention of the men and public announcement of their situation has increased tensions between Hezbollah and states such as Egypt and Israel. Hezbollah is a militant group that has a political arm and is now part of the Lebanese government.
The men were reportedly working as operatives when they were arrested in Egypt, and had planned to simultaneously strike three tourist hubs in Sinai frequented by Israelis—Taba, Nuweiba, and Dahab.
The revelation of the planned attacks sent shockwaves through Israeli society earlier this month, prompting the Israeli military to issue a severe travel warning to citizens to stay out of the area.
Brig. Gen. Nitzan Nuriel, head of Israel’s Counterterrorism Bureau, said in a statement on April 15 that the travel warning was based on information that a terror cell in Sinai was planning “to abduct Israeli citizens and immediately transfer them to the Gaza Strip.”
“Sinai is a big place and it is not impossible to kidnap Israelis from one of the beaches,” stated Nuriel, adding that Egyptian authorities were taking measures to thwart kidnapping.
Egypt, which is the only country to share a border with Gaza and with Israel, is being criticized by human rights groups and others for rushing the case through because of regional security concerns.
According to a Reuters report, defense attorney for the case, Montasser Zayat, said that in Egyptian law a sentence of 25 years is equivalent to a life sentence.
“This verdict is cruel and does not fit with the documents put forward,” Zayat was quoted by Reuters as saying.
Apparently, there will be no possibility to appeal the verdict, but Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak could reduce any of the sentences if he chooses.
The men, who are Lebanese, Palestinians, Egyptians, and one Sudanese, were tried and convicted by Judge Adel Abdel Salam Gomaa of Egypt’s emergency state security court. Their prison terms range from six months to 25 years.
According to the Egyptian Gazette, the detention of the men and public announcement of their situation has increased tensions between Hezbollah and states such as Egypt and Israel. Hezbollah is a militant group that has a political arm and is now part of the Lebanese government.
The men were reportedly working as operatives when they were arrested in Egypt, and had planned to simultaneously strike three tourist hubs in Sinai frequented by Israelis—Taba, Nuweiba, and Dahab.
The revelation of the planned attacks sent shockwaves through Israeli society earlier this month, prompting the Israeli military to issue a severe travel warning to citizens to stay out of the area.
Brig. Gen. Nitzan Nuriel, head of Israel’s Counterterrorism Bureau, said in a statement on April 15 that the travel warning was based on information that a terror cell in Sinai was planning “to abduct Israeli citizens and immediately transfer them to the Gaza Strip.”
“Sinai is a big place and it is not impossible to kidnap Israelis from one of the beaches,” stated Nuriel, adding that Egyptian authorities were taking measures to thwart kidnapping.
Egypt, which is the only country to share a border with Gaza and with Israel, is being criticized by human rights groups and others for rushing the case through because of regional security concerns.
According to a Reuters report, defense attorney for the case, Montasser Zayat, said that in Egyptian law a sentence of 25 years is equivalent to a life sentence.
“This verdict is cruel and does not fit with the documents put forward,” Zayat was quoted by Reuters as saying.
Apparently, there will be no possibility to appeal the verdict, but Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak could reduce any of the sentences if he chooses.
Friends Read Free