BICOM

Seven Israeli citizens from Arab communities in northern Israel were yesterday charged with plotting an attack on behalf of ISIS. Although several Arab citizens of Israel are thought to have travelled to Syria to join ISIS, this is the first instance of a planned ISIS attack on Israelis.

The indictments were brought yesterday at the Nazareth District Court after the Shin Bet uncovered a planned shooting attack on a police station and an IDF base in northern Israel. A Shin Bet statement said that the accused men had “created an ISIS cell with the intention of carrying out terror attacks.” Israel Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said, “This was a major investigation and the arrests were made several weeks ago in a joint undercover operation.”

The most serious charges were brought against Mahmoud Ihaav Sarif, 22, from Nazareth, Ahmad Omer Hagana, 20, from Yafia and Muhammad Hamad Gazal, 23, from Yafia, who are said to have made contact with ISIS in Syria and agreed to fight locally rather than travel to Syria. They apparently underwent weapons training in Hursha, using a Beretta firearm. They have been charged with contacting a foreign agent and an illegal organisation while planning to attack Israeli military targets.

Three other defendants were charged with selling weapons, possession of weapons and other criminal activity. A seventh defendant, Ahmed Ahmad, 26, from Nazareth, is already serving a life sentence over the murder of taxi driver Yafim Weinstein in 2009. He is accused of helping coordinate the cell by mobile phone.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Western-backed Free Syrian Army has said that ISIS is gaining ground near Syria’s border with Israel. He estimated that 500-700 ISIS fighters are in the towns of Jamlah and Ash-Shajarah, adjacent to the border. Israel also faces the threat of an ISIS-affiliated terror group to the south of the country, which is active in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. Although its attacks are focused on Egypt’s military, the group has previously fired rockets into Israel.