The suspects stored weapons in Bulgaria and Germany, with targets including the Israeli embassy and a US military base.
The German federal prosecutor's office announced on Monday that it has requested the prosecution of four suspected Hamas terrorists responsible for hiding weapons in Europe for the organization.
The four individuals, Abdelhamid Al A. e Ibrahim El-R., both born in Lebanon, the Egyptian Mohammed B. y Nazih R., of Dutch nationality, were arrested on December 14 last year.
"They had all been Hamas operators abroad for years and held important positions in the leadership of the military wing" of the organisation, said the federal prosecutor's office, which specialises in terrorist matters and is based in Karlsruhe (west).
In the spring of 2019, Ibrahim El-R. organized the installation of a cache of firearms, including a Kalashnikov, in Bulgaria, where he moved again in August 2023 to control the warehouse, the prosecutor's office said.
In the summer of 2019, he brought a pistol from a hiding place in Denmark to Germany.
Between June and December 2023, the four suspects left Berlin several times to look for a hiding place for weapons in Poland, which was not located.
Apart from Nazih R., who was arrested in Rotterdam on the basis of a European arrest warrant, the three other suspects were arrested in Berlin.
According to the federal prosecutor's office, "Hamas organized weapons caches in different European countries to carry out possible attacks against Jewish institutions in Europe".
Among the objectives of the organization, the prosecution cites in its statement "the Israeli Embassy in Berlin, the American base at Ramstein (in south-west Germany) or the site around Tempelhof Airport in Berlin.”
Hamas has been officially considered a “terrorist” organisation by the EU since 2003.
France sees “diplomatic solutions” possible
On the other hand, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, Jean-Noel Barrot, indicated last Thursday during a visit to Israel that he sees it possible to find “diplomatic solutions” to achieve the release of the Hamas hostages who remain in the Gaza Strip.
"Diplomatic solutions are possible to free the hostages, protect civilians and ensure the safety of all," the minister said shortly before meeting his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz, who will soon take over the defence portfolio.
This is the second time in just one month that the minister has traveled to the country. Upon his arrival, Barrot said that his presence in Israel is aimed at “continuing the existing dialogue on Lebanon and Gaza.” “It is time to put an end to the tragedy that began on October 7 (of 2023),” he said in a message posted on social media.
He also met with relatives of the hostages before his meeting with Katz.
His previous visit took place just a month ago on the anniversary of the attacks, which left 1.200 dead and 240 hostages and led to the start of an offensive in Gaza that has already left more than 43.300 dead.
The French diplomat reiterated the call of the French authorities to reach a ceasefire as soon as possible. Middle East that facilitates peace in the Gaza Strip and guarantee the release of the more than 100 Israelis still held by Hamas.
(With information from AFP)