Negev resident accused of transferring tens of thousands of shekels to Hamas

The State Prosecutor's Office presented charges in the Beersheba District Court against a 53-year-old resident of the southern town of Hura in the Negev, Osama Alokbi who is suspected of terrorism and financing terrorism.

According to the indictment, Alokbi met with the Hamas terror group's deputy chief, Saleh al-Arouri, during a visit to Turkey last year. During the meeting, he transferred tens of thousands of shekels to al-Arouri for Hamas' needs in the Gaza Strip. Al-Arouri was assassinated on January 2 by an Israeli strike.

The indictment also states that there was more than one meeting and that Alokbi repeatedly traveled abroad with his wife for tourist trips, during which he met with other Hamas leaders.