Police arrested an Israeli citizen earlier this month on suspicion that he had pledged allegiance to ISIS and planned a terrorist attack within Israeli territory, the Israel Police said.
The 17-year-old minor, a resident of Jisr e-Zarka, swore allegiance to ISIS a number of times in recent months and planned to carry out a terrorist attack in the Menashe region, the police added.An indictment has been filed against him.
The police also said it had found documents relating to the production of explosives in the suspect’s possession.In November 2024, an indictment was filed against a 24-year-old from the same community for terrorist-related offenses, incitement, and affiliation with ISIS.
Muhammad Amash, a student studying in Beersheba, was also arrested in a joint police and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) operation after suspicions were raised that he had pledged allegiance to ISIS. According to Israeli media, his trial remains ongoing.
Continued pledges to ISIS
Per a senior police official, the two security agencies were continuing efforts to thwart terrorism in Israel.“The arrest of the minor who planned to carry out an attack is the result of precise intelligence work and the security forces’ swift response. Anyone who chooses the path of terrorism will be caught, arrested, and brought to justice,” the police official said.
A top Shin Bet official added: “This case joins a series of arrests carried out against Israeli citizens who planned to engage in terrorist activity in Israel. The trend of citizens becoming involved in terrorism and espionage is extremely serious, and the security establishment will take strong action against those involved.”
In late December, the police and the Shin Bet arrested a 16-year-old resident of southern Israel on suspicion of committing offenses inspired by terrorist organizations.
The individual, who identified with ISIS, planned to fight for the terrorist group abroad and considered establishing an ISIS cell in Israel to carry out attacks against Jews, according to the police statement regarding the case.
In August, a doctor at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba who pledged allegiance to ISIS was arrested and indicted.The doctor had previously treated wounded IDF soldiers. Originally from Nazareth, the Beersheba resident, Muhammad Azzam, 34, had reportedly pledged allegiance to ISIS, according to the police.
An investigation found that he had been reading ISIS-affiliated extreme online content since 2014, the Justice Ministry said in a statement.
The Shin Bet detained Azzam, an Israeli citizen, for questioning in July on suspicion of engaging in activities inspired by ISIS.
Darcie Grunblatt contributed to this report.