During his interrogation, investigators discovered that he joined the Islamic State terrorist organization as a member while pledging allegiance to the organization and consuming terrorist network content.

The investigation also revealed that due to Najib's religious strengthening and following the war in Gaza, he contemplated attacking security forces. The investigation exposed a troubling picture of expanding trends of Israeli Arab involvement in terrorism recently, and the war's effects on them and their actions.

Thursday, following the completion of comprehensive investigative actions by the police and Shin Bet, an indictment was filed by the Haifa District Attorney's Office.

Drew inspiration from beheading videos

According to the indictment filed by attorney Mor Ben Abu from the Haifa District Attorney's Office, beginning in February this year, the defendant displayed a growing interest in ISIS and its activities. He regularly watched videos and content on social networks and Telegram groups identified with the organization, including execution and combat videos from Syria and Iraq.

At a later stage, it is alleged that the defendant watched a video containing the text of the oath to the organization, read aloud the text of the declaration while mentioning the name of ISIS's current leader, thereby swearing allegiance to the organization and considering himself a member of it. Subsequently, he examined the possibility of traveling to Somalia in order to join ISIS terrorists.

According to the indictment, in April and May, the defendant drove several times in his car near the settlement of Maor, listened to jihadist songs, and considered detonating an explosive device at a kiosk where soldiers stay. The prosecution attributes to him charges of membership in a terrorist organization.

The post Israeli pledged allegiance to ISIS, plotted attack on security forces appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The terror cell, comprising men in their twenties, consumed ISIS propaganda online, learned bomb-making techniques, and purchased firearms while planning coordinated attacks against Israeli security forces and Jewish civilians in the capital.

Israeli security forces conducted a prolonged investigation that revealed the suspects' extensive preparation including weapons procurement, communication with ISIS operatives abroad, and detailed planning for maximum casualties through various attack methods.

The investigation further revealed that one suspect contacted ISIS operatives in Judea and Samaria and Syria with the goal of traveling there for terrorist training. Some of the three also planned to purchase a drone online and fly it toward the Sheikh Saad checkpoint to attack forces operating at the location. Police sources said that at some point, the three planned to use a car bomb to cause "greater damage and more deaths."

One of the detained suspects purchased a pistol for tens of thousands of shekels with the intention of carrying out a shooting attack, while another previously threw eight firebombs at a police station and fled the scene. Investigation revealed that one suspect regularly provided journalists with photos from impact sites across the country while working in central Israel.

Two of the suspects are expected to stand trial after an indictment was filed against them. The third suspect's detention was extended.

The post Foiled ISIS plot foiled in capital involved car bomb, explosive drone appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Israeli government sources launched a fierce attack on Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman Thursday after he claimed that Israel was arming militias associated with ISIS in the Gaza Strip on orders from Netanyahu's office. The Prime Minister's Office did not deny Lieberman's statements and said, "Israel acts to defeat Hamas in various and diverse ways on the recommendation of all security establishment heads."

Israel Hayom has learned that the militia was likely involved in a shooting near aid distribution centers earlier this week, for which foreign media falsely blamed the IDF. Those same armed individuals tried to drive away Hamas members who threatened with weapons those who went to collect supplies from the distribution centers run by US private contractors. Senior Israeli security officials confirmed Thursday that non-Hamas, non-Fatah local militias in Gaza were cooperating with Israel, engaging Hamas in combat, and guarding aid sites.

"Lieberman, the serial leaker lacking responsibility, apparently prefers that our soldiers risk their lives against Hamas instead of using local armed groups in certain situations," a government source said. "When everything is positioning and personal politicking – even thinking becomes distorted."

Another senior source said Lieberman "completely lost it again. While his leftist camp colleagues spread antisemitic blood libels against Israeli Air Force soldiers, Lieberman chooses to endanger our soldiers and the country's security to gather votes."

MK Yulia Malinovsky, who is in Lieberman's Knesset faction, responded to briefings from "a senior source in the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet" against Lieberman for exposing that Netanyahu distributes weapons to clans associated with ISIS in the Strip. "Those who caused there to be hostages in Gaza in the first place are the misconception people led by the October 7 prime minister. Netanyahu, who transfers humanitarian aid worth 700 million shekels ($197 million) to Hamas, endangers our soldiers," she said.

She added that "whoever distributes weapons to ISIS militias is completely irresponsible and unrestrained. Whoever approved the transfer of Qatari cash suitcases to Hamas must go home. That same senior source in the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet reveals himself as a cynical person who prevents action only from narrow political motives."

Lieberman responded by tweeting on his X account, "To the October 7 government that arms clans associated with ISIS – the October 7 prime minister learned nothing and still continues with the same conception that led us to the greatest massacre in the state's history. Netanyahu cultivated Hamas for years and refused to listen to me when I said that by doing so he severely harms Israel's security. Right now he is repeating the exact same mistake and transferring weapons to clans associated with ISIS in Gaza."

Diplomatic-Security Cabinet ministers said they "are not familiar with weapon distribution in Gaza to clans. The Diplomatic-Security Cabinet did not approve arming of organizations in Gaza, but Israel does act to create conflict between Hamas and other forces."

Meanwhile, the terror organization announced that leadership has intensified its internal activity in the Strip in recent days. As part of an extensive operation against suspects who collaborate with Israel. Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the directive was issued to senior security apparatus officials and military wing personnel, aimed at acting against troublemakers. According to sources who spoke with the newspaper, some of the suspects were shot, others were beaten and some were even executed.

The post ISIS-linked militia was involved in misattributed Hamas incident appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Syria's new de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, declared in an exclusive BBC interview that his war-torn nation no longer poses a threat to neighboring countries or Western nations, marking a significant shift in tone from the country's new leadership.

In the interview conducted in Damascus, al-Sharaa emphasized the need to lift international sanctions, arguing that the measures were designed to target the previous regime. "The victim and the oppressor should not be treated in the same way," he said.

Al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, led the recent offensive that overthrew Bashar Assad's government less than two weeks ago and heads the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the dominant force in the rebel alliance. He now seeks to distance his organization from its designation as a terrorist group by the UN, US, EU, and UK.

Al-Sharaa directly addressed concerns about his group's past connections to al-Qaeda, which it separated from in 2016. He insisted that HTS does not target civilians and portrayed his organization as a victim of the Assad regime's actions.

Al-Sharaa rejected comparisons between his vision for Syria and Afghanistan's governance model, emphasizing Syria's distinct cultural traditions. He pointed to education initiatives in rebel-held territories, stating, "The percentage of women in universities is more than 60%" in Idlib province, which has been under rebel control since 2011.

When questioned about specific policies, the BBC reports that al-Sharaa deferred to future legal processes, saying that the "Syrian committee of legal experts" would write a constitution that all leaders would need to follow.

The interview showed al-Sharaa in civilian clothes, appearing relaxed as he attempted to reassure those skeptical about his group's break from its extremist past. Many Syrians remain unconvinced, and the actions of Syria's new rulers in the next few months will indicate the kind of country they want Syria to be – and the way they want to rule it.

The post Al-Julani rules out Afghan model for Syria appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The situation in Syria remains complex and fluid, yet the path forward from Bashar al-Assad's oppressive regime is becoming clearer. The opposition forces that liberated Syria from the dictator who built brutal prisons have emerged from radical Islamic movements, including former ISIS affiliates from Iraq.

Nevertheless, their leader, Ahmed al-Shara, previously known as Abu Muhammad al-Julani, strikes a different tone. His statements have resonated positively across Syria's diverse spectrum of ethnic groups, religious denominations, and communities.

Al-Shara, a devout Muslim and former ISIS member who founded Jabhat al-Nusra (now Hayat Tahrir al-Sham), appears to have evolved. Those who have met with him recently describe a pragmatic leader working to adapt to the new reality he helped create in Syria.

Regarding Israel, al-Shara sees no conflict and has declared he will not allow attacks against Israel from Syrian territory. He emphasized that he and the new leadership are committed to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement on the Golan Heights. His government has even requested the UN to extend UNDOF's mandate in Golan.

Sources close to al-Shara say regional states should support the Syrian people and make clear to the new leader that without including all segments of society in building the new Syria, he cannot be a regional partner. These sources explain that while he seeks rapprochement with the West and Israel, he lacks experience in regional politics and power struggles. He has an understanding with Turkey, but serious disagreements remain over issues like northeastern Syria's integrity.

Those familiar with Syria understand that Assad's fall surprised not only Israel, Turkey, and the entire Iranian axis, but also the opposition forces involved and their leader himself.

Given the opposition leadership's inexperience, regional and Western pressure is needed to prevent the Islamization of Syria simply because of its diverse religious groups and denominations. This requires establishing leadership representing various factions and streams, while maintaining Sunni predominance across both religious and secular groups.

Al-Shara looks to Israel first before making decisions regarding the Golan. He does not condemn or complain about Israeli strikes on former regime bases; rather, this helps him build a new army with Western weapons and end Russian dependence following Iran's complete withdrawal from Syria.

Conversely, he hopes Israel will evaluate him and his actions. His circle says the groundwork exists for good, productive neighborly relations. They emphasize that al-Shara could potentially sign a peace agreement with Israel and resolve the Golan issue with all its implications.

A close associate stresses that Israel is not an enemy and its actions will determine future relations. The new Damascus anticipates and desires an end to hostility, building new relationships benefiting both peoples and the entire region.

The post Will al-Julani make peace with Israel? appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Sweden's Security Service (SAPO) detained two brothers, aged 25 and 23, from Stockholm, suspected of plotting attacks on Jewish community centers and synagogues at ISIS's behest, according to the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter.

A raid on their southern Stockholm apartment yielded Islamist materials, cash, and lists of names, including "Osama bin Laden" and "Jihad." SAPO agents forcibly entered by breaking the front and balcony doors.

Nearby locations, including a mosque, were also raided. Surveillance from the mosque showed the elder brother allegedly handling weapons, SAPO officials disclosed.

Prosecutors allege that the elder brother pledged allegiance to ISIS leaders in Somalia and was instructed to recruit individuals for attacks on non-believers. Intercepted conversations revealed the brothers dismissed potential harm to children as "acceptable collateral damage."

The 23-year-old brother faces additional charges for supporting a terror organization and attempting to recruit others.

Their mother recounted in her testimony that her eldest son became devout at 15. Following a short prison term in 2022, he intensified his religious practices, including daily mosque visits. By mid-2023, he influenced his younger brother to adopt traditional clothing and practices after returning from Morocco.

Neighbors reported noticeable changes in 2023, describing the brothers' traditional Islamic attire and growing beards. "They were quiet but clearly different," one neighbor said.

Investigators found evidence of the elder brother participating in closed chat groups with extremist rhetoric. A group member from Barcelona stated that the elder brother encouraged violence and derided other members as "hypocrites."

Despite their radicalization, the brothers continued working as substitute teachers. The mother described her younger son as "kind and gentle," noting he received praise from parents for his teaching.

Questioned by authorities, the brothers maintained near-complete silence. The elder brother corrected officials about his faith, saying, "We are all born Muslim according to Islam," before becoming combative and insulting the investigators.

Authorities are pursuing further leads in the case, aiming to uncover the full extent of the brothers' activities.

The post Swedish brothers accused of planning ISIS terror attacks on Jews appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

After ten years: Fawzia Amin Sido, a Yazidi girl kidnapped by ISIS in Iraq and brought to Gaza at the age of 11, was rescued this week by IDF forces from the Gaza Strip and reunited with her family.

Fawzia, a Yazidi girl kidnapped by ISIS from Iraq and brought to Gaza at just 11 years old, has finally been rescued by the Israeli security forces.

For years, she was held captive by a Palestinian Hamas-ISIS member.

She has now been reunited with her family. Her story is a… pic.twitter.com/nkVotqYdov

— David Saranga (@DavidSaranga) October 3, 2024

Israel's official Arabic-language X account shared the news and emotional footage showing Fawzia reuniting with her family.

"Fawzia was held for years by a Palestinian affiliated with Hamas-ISIS," read the post. "Her story reminds us of the cruelty Yazidi children suffered when abducted against their will." The post also added: "We must remember that 101 Israeli hostages are still being held in Gaza."

The IDF released a statement detailing the operation's behind-the-scenes. According to the statement, the terrorist holding Fawzia was killed, likely during IDF airstrikes in Gaza, and she managed to flee to a hiding place. Following complex coordination between Israel, the US Embassy in Israel, the United States, and other international partners, she was secretly extracted from Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing in recent days.

After entering Israel, Fawzia continued to Jordan through the Allenby Bridge crossing. From there, she returned to her family in Iraq.

The post IDF rescues Yazidi woman kidnapped by ISIS in Iraq appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

As the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games concluded Sunday with the grand closing ceremony, one delegation was embroiled in controversy. Iran's Sadegh Beit Sayah, who clinched gold in the F41 category javelin throw yesterday, saw his moment of triumph turn sour due to his post-victory actions.

Overwhelmed by his win, Beit Sayah's celebration took a dark turn when he made a throat-slitting gesture toward the crowd and waved a flag bearing religious significance. Both actions breached Paralympic Committee rules, earning him two yellow cards and resulting in his disqualification. Competition organizers later linked the flag to ISIS, further compounding the issue, although the flag was for Islamic Shiism. 

Beit Sayah won gold medal but immediately got disqualified by breaking the rules for unprofessionalism & displaying a shiism flag.

This is such a cringe & embarrassing behavior. Go do your khayemalis at home.

You represent Iran at Paralympics, not Shia Islam. pic.twitter.com/S6zbEoYDwV

— Throwback Iranian Football (@Tarikh_football) September 7, 2024

The Iranian delegation's appeal against the decision was swiftly rejected, but the repercussions may extend beyond the sporting arena. French authorities are now considering pressing charges against Beit Sayah for incitement to terrorism.

The incident has sparked widespread condemnation on social media. One user commented, "Without severe consequences, we risk seeing more such extremists forsaking medals for notoriety among their radical supporters. French authorities must take action."

The post Iranian Paralympian wins gold – then everything goes wrong appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

A 20-year-old Pakistani national residing in Canada has been arrested for allegedly plotting a terrorist attack on a Jewish center in New York City, according to a press release from the US Department of Justice's Office of Public Affairs.

Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, was apprehended on September 4 in Canada following a complaint filed in the Southern District of New York. He faces charges of attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Breaking - the DOJ has charged Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a 20-year-old Pakistani citizen, with plotting to travel to NYC to carry out a mass shooting against Jewish people on the one year anniversary of 10/7.

AG Merrick Garland: Khan's stated goal was to kill as many Jews as… pic.twitter.com/cRYTj5V5Eo

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) September 6, 2024

 Attorney General Merrick Garland stated, "The defendant is alleged to have planned a terrorist attack in New York City around October 7 of this year with the stated goal of slaughtering, in the name of ISIS, as many Jewish people as possible." Garland expressed gratitude to Canadian law enforcement partners for their swift action in the case.

FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the severity of the alleged plot, saying, "The defendant was allegedly determined to kill Jewish people here in the United States, nearly one year after Hamas' horrific attack on Israel." Wray affirmed the FBI's commitment to investigating and holding accountable those who seek to commit violence in support of terrorist organizations.

According to the complaint, Khan had been communicating with undercover law enforcement officers since November 2023, expressing his support for ISIS and distributing propaganda materials. He allegedly planned to use automatic and semi-automatic weapons to carry out a mass shooting at a Jewish center in Brooklyn.

Khan reportedly told the undercover officers that he intended to create "a real offline cell" of ISIS supporters for a "coordinated assault" using AR-style rifles. He emphasized the significance of October 7 and October 11, 2024 as potential dates for the attack because "Oct. 7 they will surely have some protests and Oct. 11 is Yom Kippur."

BREAKING: Illegal Immigrant Caught Planning "The Largest Terror Attack on U.S. Soil Since 9/11" pic.twitter.com/zJjUWuLoLm

— Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) September 7, 2024

 The suspect allegedly changed his target location from another US city to New York City in August, boasting that "New York is perfect to target Jews" due to its large Jewish population. Khan purportedly proclaimed, "We are going to NYC to slaughter them," and sent a photograph of the specific area inside the targeted location where he planned to carry out the attack.

Khan repeatedly urged the undercover officers to acquire weapons and equipment for the attack, including "Some good hunting [knives] so we can slit their throats." He allegedly stated, "If we succeed with our plan, this would be the largest attack on US soil since 9/11."

On September 4, Khan attempted to reach the US-Canada border using three separate cars before being stopped near Ormstown, Canada, approximately 12 miles from the border.

If convicted, Khan faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The FBI's New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles Field Offices are investigating the case, with the Department of Justice seeking Khan's extradition from Canada.

The post Pakistani arrested for NYC plot to kill 'as many Jews as possible' appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The perpetrator of the shooting near the Israeli consulate in Munich is an Austrian citizen and an Islamist known to police, according to a report today (Thursday) by the news website Bild. Bavaria's interior minister stated that the Israeli consulate was indeed the target of the attack, but added that the attacker's motives remain unclear.

According to the report, the shooter, identified only by his surname "Imra," was known to police as an Islamist. He arrived at the scene of the attack armed with a bolt-action rifle and bayonet from World War II. Reports indicate that the suspect had previously faced legal proceedings for disseminating propaganda from the ISIS terrorist organization.

The police have not officially commented on the reports regarding the identity of the shooter, who was killed by police following a brief exchange of gunfire near the Holocaust memorial and the Israeli consulate in central Munich.

A witness to the attempted attack said he saw police chasing the attacker until they caught up with him. "It took a few minutes before the first officers arrived behind him. Then they fired at him at least 30 to 40 times. After that, I just heard them shouting: 'He's on the ground, he's not moving anymore,'" the witness described to Bild. The assailant collapsed after being shot in the chest, and his death was confirmed at 10:31 AM local time.

The post Report: Munich shooter - Islamist who used a WWII rifle appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.