The IDF and the Shin Bet on Wednesday announced that they had captured Mahmoud Kawasme - the last remaining conspirator at large from the Hamas murder of three Israeli teenagers in 2014 - as part of their operations to retake Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza.
In 2014, the IDF Judea military court convicted Hussam Hassan Kawasme of being the mastermind behind the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teens.
Hussam was convicted based on his own confession of planning and financing the attack, including receiving NIS 200,000 from Hamas in Gaza, purchasing and providing weapons for the other terrorists, hiding the bodies, and destroying evidence.
The IDF Prosecution filed an indictment against Hussam with the Judea Military Court in September 2014.
The Shin Bet arrested him on July 11, 2014, on suspicion of assisting the killers and of hiding the victims’ bodies in land he owned in Hebron, security forces said.
On June 12, 2014, Hamas members kidnapped Gil-Ad Sha’er, 16, Naftali Fraenkel, 16, and Eyal Yifrah, 19, as they waited for a ride outside the Alon Shvut settlement in Judea. The Shin Bet named the killers Marwan Kawasme and Amar Abu Aisha.
The two were killed in a shootout with the IDF near Hebron in September 2014.
Hussam, a resident of Hebron, was in Israeli prison from 1995 to 2002 after being convicted of involvement in Hamas terrorist offenses, including being part of a cell that carried out bomb attacks.
“He is the son of a family whose sons have been involved in severe terrorist attacks on behalf of Hamas,” the domestic intelligence agency said at the time.
Hussam’s brother Hassin Kawasme is serving a life sentence for his role in a bomb attack on a bus stop across from the Jerusalem International Convention Center in March 2011. Scottish tourist Mary Jane Gardner, 59, was killed in the attack, and 39 people were wounded.
His other brother was Mahmoud Kawasme, who had served a 20-year prison sentence for his role in a twin suicide bombing attack aboard buses in Beersheba in August 2004, which killed 16 residents of the city and wounded more than 100 people. However, Mahmoud was released as part of the Schalit exchange with Hamas and expelled to the Gaza Strip.
From Gaza, Mahmoud transferred funds to his brother in Hebron for the attack on the three teenagers.
“During questioning by the Shin Bet, and the questioning of others, it emerged that Hussam Kawasme served as a command level for the kidnapping,“ the Shin Bet said.
Sha'er's parents respond to IDF operation
Bat Galim and Ofir Sha'er welcomed the news of Kawasme's arrest. They said in response, "Justice has finally come to light, and the heroic IDF soldiers and all the security forces are doing it bravely."
"We do not deal with terrorists and death but with life, with unity, with the order of life left by our son and all those who have fallen over the years," they added.
The couple, who founded the Sunshine Association in memory of their son, said, "In these very days, we are privileged to deliver thousands of parcels as part of the 'Connection' project to our brothers and sisters in the diaspora on behalf of the soldiers and commanders of the IDF for their boundless support and love for our soldiers and the State of Israel, this is the victory of light over darkness, love won over pure hatred.
"Our joy comes from the apprehension of all our enemies who seek to harm us, for our choice of life and for no more Jews to be harmed," the further noted.
"Our personal security is strengthened by the knowledge that there will not be a terrorist left with whom we will not reckon with. All our enemies should know that we will reach everyone," they concluded.
Operations in the last day expand beyond the al-Shifa Hospital area
Over the past day, IDF troops, in cooperation with the Shin Bet, have killed dozens of terrorists and located weapons in the al-Shifa Hospital area while preventing harm to civilians, patients, medical teams, and medical equipment, the IDF announced on Wednesday.
According to the announcement, security forces have killed approximately 90 terrorists in the area, as well as questioned over 300 suspects near the compound, with the cooperation of Unit 504 from the Intelligence branch. Also, an additional 160 suspects have been transferred to Israeli territory for further questioning.
The announcement also stated that a launch was identified from northern Gaza toward the city of Sderot, which fell in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. In response, an IAF aircraft struck a Hamas shaft in the area of the launch, the added.
Additionally, snipers from the Nahal Brigade detected a terrorist threat in central Gaza and killed it.
Furthermore, IDF troops from the 215th combat brigade reportedly directed an IAF aircraft to strike and kill six terrorists. in Jabalya.
IDF troops also continued to operate in Khan Yunis. Soldiers from the 7th Armored Brigade combat team killed two terrorists and struck military sites in Al-Qarara in Khan Yunis. Additionally, an IAF aircraft struck a terrorist who was identified as loading weapons in the area, the military added.