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Israel charges Palestinian with smuggling diving gear for Hamas

Xinhua, September 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

Israeli authorities charged a Palestinian merchant on Sunday with smuggling diving gear to the besieged Gaza Strip for Hamas' military wing.

Abed Sakala, a 41-year-old clothing merchant from Gaza, was indicted by the southern Beersheba District Court for selling diving equipment and sportswear to Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.

The Southern District Attorney's Office said in a statement that the gear included hundreds of swim fins, dozens of snorkels and diving suits.

Sakala allegedly sold them to a Hamas operative who is a former naval police officer in Gaza, according to the statement.

Hamas has been controlling the Gaza Strip since it won the 2006 election. Israel imposed a blockade on the strip in the wake of the takeover, allowing a restricted transfer of goods in and out of the Palestinian enclave and limiting most exits and entries. Endit