Israeli resident charged over ISIS ties, marking fourth in under two weeks

The concentrated run of cases includes two alleged plots to attack Israeli security forces and a former IDF soldier accused of training to join ISIS abroad. 

A 19-year-old resident of northern Israel was charged with membership in a terrorist organization on Monday, becoming the fourth person from the region indicted over alleged ties to the Islamic State in less than two weeks.

The concentrated run of cases includes two alleged plots to attack Israeli security forces and a former IDF soldier accused of training to join ISIS abroad. 

Yaqoub Shibli, a resident of the northern village of Shibli, was arrested on August 16 in a joint operation by the Shin Bet and the Israel Police Northern District’s central investigative unit.

Investigators allege that Shibli expressed support for ISIS, watched material about the terrorist organization and pledged allegiance to it.

The prosecution filed the indictment at the Nof Hagalil-Nazareth Magistrate’s Court. The indictment follows three others filed against northern residents since August 28.

Various other cases of ISIS-affiliated arrests in Israel

In the first case, Haifa district prosecutors indicted a 16-year-old from the Galilee and Ibrahim Kaabia, 19, of Haifa after authorities alleged that both had pledged allegiance to ISIS and developed separate plans to attack security forces.

According to police and the Shin Bet, the minor searched online for instructions on making an explosive belt and intended to attack police officers and soldiers at the Temple Mount. Kaabia allegedly planned an attack against an IDF base in northern Israel.

Kaabia’s attorney, Suhad Aga-Dahla, denied that he had planned an attack. She said his exposure to ISIS material stemmed from curiosity and described him as a loyal citizen.

Five days later, prosecutors charged Khamis Su’ad, 30, of Huseiniya in the Galilee, with training or receiving instruction for terrorist purposes.

According to that indictment, Su’ad, who served in the IDF from 2017 to 2019, developed a growing identification with ISIS beginning in 2023. Prosecutors allege that he later decided to travel to Syria or Africa to join the organization, saved money for the journey, and viewed training material on combat, weapons, and the production of missiles and drones.

The four cases involve substantially different levels of alleged conduct, ranging from viewing ISIS material and pledging allegiance to preparing for attacks or training to fight abroad.

Police and the Shin Bet said they would continue acting against Israeli citizens seeking to operate on behalf of terrorist organizations.