15 year sentences for 2 Hamas members

The Palestinian Supreme Court for State Security in Jericho Monday summarily tried and convicted two Palestinians of membership in Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement, for taking part in preparing a number of explosive devices that were used in two separate suicide attacks by Hamas in West Jerusalem last year.

Nassim Shafiq Abu Al Rous, and Yasser Asaad Samaro, both from Nablus and in their early 20s, were each sentenced to 15 imprisonment with hard labor. Their lawyers said they were not allowed to present their arguments to the court while Palestinian legal sources said the sentencing was completed in a hurry to prevent Israel from presenting an extradition request against the two Palestinians.

According to the agreement, if the suspect is tried and sentenced, he cannot be extradited until after having served his sentence. The two were said to have prepared five bombs which exploded in Jerusalem about six months ago, two in the Mahane Yehuda market and three in the Ben-Yehuda pedestrian mall.

A senior Palestinian source said the two were responsible for an explosives laboratory the Palestinian police discovered in Nablus last week. The two were arrested a week ago by the Palestinian General Intelligence Service in the West Bank, headed by Tawfik Tirawi. During questioning they admitted to preparing the bombs and sending the suicide bombers to Jerusalem.

There are still two more Palestinians branded as wanted by Israel. Muhyi Eddin Al Sharif and Adel Awadallah were said by Israel to be the new leaders of the Hamas military wing, better known as the Brigades of Izziddin Al Qassam.