Israel charges man over alleged ISIS combat preparations

A resident of the northern Bedouin village of Hussniyya has been charged with allegedly preparing to travel abroad and fight for the Islamic State (ISIS), Israeli police and the Shin Bet security agency said.

The Haifa District Attorney’s Office filed an indictment against Khamis Suaed, who is in his 30s, at the Haifa Magistrate’s Court and requested that he remain in custody until the conclusion of the legal proceedings, the agencies said in a joint statement, The Times of Israel reports.

Suaed was arrested for questioning in recent weeks, according to the statement.

Investigators found that he had watched instructional videos on warfare, as well as the production of missiles and drones, out of what authorities described as “identification with the Islamic State terror group.”

The case comes amid continued efforts by Israeli authorities to investigate alleged Islamic State activity among Arab citizens. Police said dozens of Arab citizens have been arrested in recent years on suspicion of plotting attacks on behalf of the group.

Among them were five residents of Taybe who were accused of planning to detonate a car bomb at Tel Aviv’s Azrieli shopping complex in 2024.

Last week, the Shin Bet and police also announced the indictment of two teenagers from the Galilee who were accused of researching explosives with the alleged intention of attacking Israeli security forces on the Temple Mount.

By Vafa Guliyeva