TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- A Palestinian from Gaza who received a permit to enter Israel for medical treatment and planned to shoot Israeli soldiers has been arrested, Shin Bet said.
Mahmoud Tsaber Mahmoud Abu Amsha, 32, of Beit Hanoun in Gaza was arrested at the beginning of December by Israeli police and Shin Bet security agency operatives.
Amsha, a member of Fatah's al-Aksa Brigades, received a humanitarian permit to enter Israel to seek medical treatment for an eye injury in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Shin Bet said.
He admitted to investigators he was a sniper and prior to a recent eye injury, had planned to shoot Israeli soldiers patrolling the border fence with Gaza, Shin Bet said.
Amsha allegedly admitted compiling intelligence on army patrol movements and carrying out shooting exercises in preparation for the attacks. After receiving medical treatment in Ramallah, Amsha planned to return to Gaza and prepare to execute the attacks, Shin Bet said.
Amsha was served an indictment in Beersheba District Court Thursday.
Thousands of permits are issued by Israel to Palestinians in Gaza, allowing them to enter Israel and the West Bank on humanitarian grounds or for medical treatment, the Shin Bet said.
