THE PNP Intelligence Group (IG) yesterday said it has uncovered new attempts by the Middle East-based militant group Hamas to establish a foothold in the country and launch attacks against Westerners and Middle Easterners here.
It was not the first time that Hamas, the largest of Palestinian militant Islamist groups, tried to establish presence in the country. In 2018, authorities arrested an Iraqi chemist affiliated with Hamas.
IG director Brig. Gen. Neil Alinsangan said the latest plot was disclosed by a “Filipino source” who had been groomed by Hamas as a “local contact” as early as 2016.
Alingasan said one Bashir, a Hamas operative, was initially identified by the source as the one attempting to establish Hamas presence in the Philippines, “with pledges of financial support to some local threat groups including militant extremists with links to the international terrorist organizations,” said Alinsangan.
Alinsangan said coordination and information sharing with foreign and local counterparts showed Bashir’s real name is Fares Al Shikli, who is purportedly the head of the Hamas’ Foreign Liaison Section.
“He has also an Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) Red Notice and is charged with an offense of terrorism logistic support,” he said.
The Filipino source was said to have made several trips to Malaysia, from 2016 to 2018, where he met with Al Shikli.
Alinsangan said the two discussed during their meetings the “recruitment of Filipinos that will be utilized to kill Jews present in the country, conduct rallies at the Israeli embassy and spread (of) video propaganda against Israel.”
“Al Shikli likewise introduced theoretical bomb making training (to the Filipino source),” Alinsangan also said.
Information from the IG showed Al Shikli currently resides in Turkey. He is said to be responsible for “identifying new areas of activity for Hamas and strengthening existing areas of activities worldwide.”
“He has been involved in developing Hamas military infrastructure in Libya and Sudan,” the IG also said.
Alinsangan said this is the not the first time Hamas tried to establish presence in the country, noting the January 2018 arrest of Iraqi national Taha Mohammed Ahmed al-Jibouri, 64, in Pampanga. Al-Jabouri, who was later deported by the Bureau of Immigration to Turkey, was described by the police as a “chemist with knowledge on explosives” and “closely affiliated with Hamas.”
Alinsangan warned terrorists who are planning to conduct recruitment activities in the country that they will be identified.
In a statement, the PNP said the plot was to “wage a proxy war in the country by recruiting Filipino affiliates who will carry out terrorist activities against Westerners and Middle Eastern nationals in the Philippines.”
It said the Filipino source and Al Shikli meet in Malaysia several times “to discuss the possibility of mounting attack against Israeli nationals in the country in exchange for financial assistance by Hamas.
