 "Israeli police officers. Reuters file")
The family of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh seems to be paying the price of his crimes in Israel as his sister, Sabah Abdel Salam Haniyeh, was arrested by the Israeli police on Monday in connection to a terror probe.
An Israeli citizen, Sabah Haniyeh, was taken into custody in the town of Tel Sheva as part of an investigation also involving Israel’s security agency Shin Bet.
Earlier, authorities did not identify the suspect but later confirmed that it was Haniye’s sister and said that she is “suspected of having contact with Hamas operatives and identifying with the organisation, while inciting and supporting acts of terrorism in Israel”.
Police said they found in the 57-year-old’s house “documents, media, telephones, other findings and evidence linking her to the commission of serious security offences against the State of Israel”.
Who is Sabah Haniyeh?
One of Ismail Haniyeh’s eight sisters, Sabah has been on the wrong side of the law before too. Earlier, Sabah and her sister Leila Abu Rkaik, both Israeli citizens, were sentenced to eight months in jail for illegally crossing into Gaza from Egypt.
Sabah lives in Tel Sheva and is a widow.
Haniyeh’s family members die
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who lives in Doha, has lost several family members in the Israel-Hamas war.
Last year, as many as 14 members of Haniyeh’s family were caught up in the crossfire, including his brother and nephew.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe Israel Defence Forces bombed Haniye’s house in the Al-Shathi neighborhood in northern Gaza. It is however not clear whether any of his family members were at home when the strike occurred.