An indictment filed late last week in a military court against former security prisoner Salama Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Qatawi, 44, from Birzeit, reveals years of alleged negligence and a lack of oversight in the management of security prisoners at detention facilities in southern Israel between 2016 and 2023.
According to the indictment, Qatawi served as the "emir," or leader, of Hamas prisoners at Ramon and Ketziot prisons, holding regular telephone conversations with Yahya Sinwar and senior Hamas figures in the Gaza Strip, Turkey and Iran. These included Ismail Haniyeh, Khaled Mashaal, Saleh al-Arouri, Zaher Jabarin and Mousa Dudin. Qatawi is also accused of directing terrorist operations from behind bars.
The alleged activities, which continued through late 2023, were uncovered by an intelligence unit established within the Israel Prison Service, which has become a significant force in the fight against terrorism.
Qatawi served a prison sentence until his release in early 2025 for membership in a terrorist organization and encouraging terrorist activities. According to the indictment, he possessed and used smuggled cellphones over the years, maintaining regular contact with senior Hamas officials through WhatsApp and other messaging applications.
The defendant also received letters and clandestine messages from Sinwar. In one instance in 2021, Qatawi spoke directly with Sinwar amid a hunger strike that erupted following the escape of six Palestinian security prisoners from Gilboa Prison. Sinwar reportedly promised that Hamas would fire rockets at Israel if the prisoners launched a general strike.
The two held similar discussions in 2023 following the tightening of restrictions on security prisoners. In March of that year, Israel Prison Service intelligence intercepted a secret message from Sinwar to Qatawi in which the Hamas leader left decisions concerning activities during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Qatawi's hands.
Instructions to carry out terrorist attacks
The indictment details an extensive network of alleged terrorist activity directed from inside Israeli prisons, including plans to establish armed cells and carry out attacks.
Establishing terrorist cells in 2022: Acting under instructions from Saleh al-Arouri, Qatawi allegedly developed a plan to establish a Hamas military wing and armed terrorist cells throughout Judea and Samaria. The plan divided the territory into operational sectors, with Qatawi appointing regional commanders.
Attack on a prison officer: In 2021, Qatawi convened a conference call linking several prisons and other senior Hamas figures, during which participants decided to attack a prison guard. Two days later, prisoner Yousef al-Mabhouh stabbed a prison officer at Nafha Prison.
Attempted shooting attack: In 2017, following the targeted killing of a senior Hamas figure in the Gaza Strip, Qatawi allegedly ordered a shooting attack, raised money to purchase weapons and directed the terrorist cell. The attack was never carried out because of a weapon malfunction.
Internal elections and financing: Qatawi allegedly coordinated political support, worked to identify imprisoned Hamas representatives for elections to the organization's political bureau and raised funds to finance terrorist cells.
According to the indictment, Qatawi continued his terrorist activities even after his release in early 2025. In July 2025, he allegedly began working with an accomplice on a plan to establish infrastructure for digging a tunnel between Jordan and Judea and Samaria, with the aim of smuggling weapons into the territory and arming terrorist organizations.
An Israel Prison Service official said, "This demonstrates just how necessary the tough approach led by the national security minister was. The exposure of this information sends another message to the terrorists."
