German terror cell exposed: Hamas operatives targeted Israeli Embassy and US Air Base

The defendants include Ibrahim El-R. and Abdelhamid Al A., both of Lebanese descent, Mohamed B., an Egyptian national, and Nazih R., a Dutch citizen. These individuals spent years maintaining weapons caches across multiple European countries, with their residency permits providing them with invaluable access to spread the goals of global jihad.

According to federal prosecutors, the plot began in the spring of 2019 when Ibrahim El-R. traveled to Bulgaria and set up a weapons depot, which included a Kalashnikov rifle and ammunition. Later, he cleared out another stash in Denmark, bringing at least one pistol back to Germany. For years, these weapons remained hidden. However, following the outbreak of war in Gaza in October 2023, Hamas leadership activated its European terror cell.

The four suspects, in the months leading up to the conflict, repeatedly traveled from Berlin, searching for a hidden weapons cache in Poland. Although they failed to find it, their terror ambitions remained strong. Their targets included the Israeli Embassy in Berlin, the US Air Base in Ramstein, and Berlin's Tempelhof Airport. Thankfully, their plans were foiled when three of the terrorists were arrested in December 2023. The fourth suspect, Nazih R., was apprehended in the Netherlands and extradited to Germany in February 2024.

This trial has shed light on the growing threat of international terrorism within Europe, as well as the determination of terror cells to strike high-profile, symbolic targets. With the accused facing serious charges, the case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing global security concerns linked to organizations like Hamas.