A trial commenced in Germany on Tuesday for four individuals believed to be members of Hamas and suspected of coordinating weapons caches across Europe. This case marks a significant milestone for German prosecutors, as it is the first time individuals are facing charges related to participation in the foreign terrorist organization Hamas.
The accused men are alleged to have been involved in locating existing weapons depots established years ago, as well as setting up new ones, to facilitate Hamas militants in carrying out attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets in Europe. Prosecutors claim that the weapons were transported throughout Europe in preparation for an attack on Israel that occurred on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians, with around 250 individuals being taken hostage.
Following the attack, Israel launched an air and ground offensive in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 48,200 Palestinians, as reported by Gaza's Health Ministry. The casualties include a significant number of women and children, with the ministry not distinguishing between combatants and civilians.
In addition to the attack on Israel, authorities revealed that Hamas had considered targeting the Israeli Embassy in Berlin, the vicinity around Tempelhof Airport in the capital, and the U.S. Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
The four individuals, identified as Abdelhamid Al A., Mohamed B., Nazih R., and Ibrahim El-R., were apprehended in December 2023. Prosecutors highlighted that all four held significant positions within Hamas and were instrumental in establishing weapons caches in Bulgaria in 2019 and Denmark later that year. Their attempts to secure a location in Poland were reportedly unsuccessful.
