Malik Khatib was indicted over his alleged efforts to collect funds for Hamas. Photo: Pakistan Defense.

JNS.org – Malik Khatib, a 31-year-old dentist from the predominantly Arab village of Kafr Kanna in northern Israel, was indicted Tuesday over his alleged efforts to collect funds on behalf of the Hamas terror group.

The State Attorney’s Office, which filed the indictment in the Nazareth District Court, charged Khatib with contacting a foreign agent, helping a terrorist organization and related offenses.

Khatib was arrested about three weeks ago and was subsequently interrogated by the Shin Bet security agency and Israel Police. The investigation was under a gag order until Wednesday. Chief Superintendent Moshe Sheetrit, who led the investigation by the State Attorney’s Northern District bureau, told Israel Hayom that Khatib would collect the Hamas-bound funds from Palestinian workers he had illegally transported to Israel. His actions were carried out under the direction of Hamas operatives in Judea and Samaria, said Sheetrit.

According to prosecutors, Khatib was told to collect large amounts of money and rendezvous with Hamas members in Jenin or Nablus, Palestinian cities, where he would hand over the money.

“He would collect 200 shekels ($50) from every Palestinian worker he would transport to Israel,” Sheetrit said, adding that Khatib was also charged with providing shelter to illegal aliens and tax-related offenses. According to the police, Khatib confessed to all charges during his questioning.