Israel claims to have arrested IS cell in Hebron
Israel claims to have arrested IS cell in Hebron
A group of Palestinians have been accused of belonging to an illegal organisation, and planning to carry out operations against Israeli targets.
2 min read
The three Palestinians were arrested in the West Bank city of Hebron [Getty]
Three Palestinians have been arrested in the city of Hebron and charged with being affiliated to the Islamic State group (IS, formerly known as ISIS), Israeli security officials have announced.
They were accused of producing several explosive devices as well as planning to kill an Israeli soldier, and to use his uniform and weapon to carry out further attacks against Israeli settlers living in the occupied West Bank.
The three accused are all from Hebron. Ahmad Waddah Salah Shehadah, aged 22, was arrested alongside 21-year-old Mohammad Fayyadh Abdul Qader Zaro and Qussai Ibrahim Theeb Masodah, 23.
Israeli media reported that, during interrogation, Shehadah admitted to having planned to form a military cell with his two companions to carry out operations against the occupation. The other two are said to have confessed to having manufactured explosive devices, and to having thrown one of them at an Israeli army patrol.
They reportedly also admitted planning to kill an Israeli soldier.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, over the past few days their files have been transferred to Israeli military prosecutors.
Abdul Qader Zaro has subsequently been indicted by the military court in the West Bank, and charged with belonging to an illegal organisation as well as other violations. Indictments against the other two will be filed in the coming days.
About a month ago, Israeli prosecutors presented a similar indictment against a Palestinian from the Galilee region, after he allegedly returned from Syria. He was accused of joining IS, contacting a foreign agent and of being affiliated with an illegal organisation.
In October, the Israeli military said that a Palestinian youth from the village of Iksal in Marj Ibn Amer had joined IS in Syria and been killed there during the fighting.
Israeli security cabinet minister Moshe Yaalon described IS as "illegal" later that month.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
They were accused of producing several explosive devices as well as planning to kill an Israeli soldier, and to use his uniform and weapon to carry out further attacks against Israeli settlers living in the occupied West Bank.
The three accused are all from Hebron. Ahmad Waddah Salah Shehadah, aged 22, was arrested alongside 21-year-old Mohammad Fayyadh Abdul Qader Zaro and Qussai Ibrahim Theeb Masodah, 23.
Israeli media reported that, during interrogation, Shehadah admitted to having planned to form a military cell with his two companions to carry out operations against the occupation. The other two are said to have confessed to having manufactured explosive devices, and to having thrown one of them at an Israeli army patrol.
They reportedly also admitted planning to kill an Israeli soldier.
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Israeli media reported that, during interrogation, Shehadah admitted to having planned to form a military cell. |
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, over the past few days their files have been transferred to Israeli military prosecutors.
Abdul Qader Zaro has subsequently been indicted by the military court in the West Bank, and charged with belonging to an illegal organisation as well as other violations. Indictments against the other two will be filed in the coming days.
About a month ago, Israeli prosecutors presented a similar indictment against a Palestinian from the Galilee region, after he allegedly returned from Syria. He was accused of joining IS, contacting a foreign agent and of being affiliated with an illegal organisation.
In October, the Israeli military said that a Palestinian youth from the village of Iksal in Marj Ibn Amer had joined IS in Syria and been killed there during the fighting.
Israeli security cabinet minister Moshe Yaalon described IS as "illegal" later that month.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
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