An Israeli citizen was recently arrested and indicted on serious security offenses alleging that he was recruited by a Gaza Strip-based terrorist group to gather intelligence on Israeli targets, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) revealed Thursday.
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Shahada Abu Alqian, 25, a resident of the southern Bedouin town of Hura, was arrested on May 30 following a joint Israel Police, Shin Bet and Military Police operation, which revealed that he had been recruited by Khataab Almujihadeen, a little-known terrorist group based in Gaza that is believed to have splintered from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades – Fatah's military wing.
According to available details, Abu Alqian carried out various tasks for the group, including gathering intelligence, photographing various locations in Israel, and stealing weapons in order to transfer them to terror operatives.
The group then instructed him to enlist in the IDF to gather inside information on the IDF and promote terrorist activity. He was arrested a few days after he joined the military.
Bedouin and Arab Christians, like all Arab Israelis, are exempt from conscription but many choose to enlist in the IDF as a path to greater social integration.
The Shin Bet statement said that his motivation appeared to be ideological affiliation with Khataab Almujihadeen, as well as his desire to exact revenge over enforcement action taken by Israeli authorities against his family over construction violations.
"The Shin Bet security service and Israel Police take any involvement by Israeli citizens in terrorist attacks very seriously, and we will act to thwart any such actions and prosecute those who seek to undermine the Israeli public's safety to the full extent of the law," the law enforcement agencies said in a joint statement.
One family member told the Walla news site that they had no knowledge of Abu Alqian's actions and that he denies any wrongdoing.
"If it turns out there is any truth to this, we hope he gets punished. We condemn this [conduct]. If any of it is true it's very serious," he said.
Abu Alqian's brother told the outlet that he did not believe his brother was involved in such activities. "My brother wouldn't do that, I don't believe it," he said.
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