Two Israelis arrested for allegedly pledging allegiance to ISIS

The Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot reported that authorities arrested two residents of northern Israel on suspicion of pledging allegiance to ISIS, communicating with a foreign operative linked to ISIS, and planning to travel to the United States and from there to an enemy state to undergo "terrorist" training.

According to investigators, the two suspects, Kinan Azayza, 20, from the village of Daburiyya in the Jezreel Valley, and another man from Acre, carried out preparatory work inside Israel to achieve this goal. They were arrested last month following a joint investigation by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the police.

An indictment was filed against Azayza in the Nazareth Magistrate's Court, while the second suspect was remanded in custody.

The newspaper reported that during Azayza's interrogation, investigators found that he had pledged allegiance to ISIS to serve its goals, expressed his willingness to carry out security activities on its behalf, and considered carrying out "terrorist" attacks against IDF soldiers.

The investigation also revealed his contact with ISIS-linked individuals abroad, his learning how to manufacture pipe bombs and explosives, and his plans to travel to Baghdad for training.

Pavel Sakharovich, head of the "Minorities" section of the Northern District's Major Crimes Unit, who led the investigation, said: "We received information that two young men were undergoing radical religious indoctrination and carrying out activities against state security. We arrested them on November 10, and suspicions were reinforced at that time that they had been viewing ISIS content online. They were planning to travel to the United States, undergo advanced weapons training there, and then return to one of the countries where ISIS is active."

According to police, Azayza also planned to seize weapons from Israeli soldiers conducting training exercises near his hometown.

“He pledged allegiance to ISIS and monitored soldiers to identify opportunities to steal weapons,” said Sakharovich. “He was primarily looking for female soldiers, whom he considered vulnerable and easier targets. He also collected materials on how to make explosives and build pipe bombs. He intended to harm the Israeli army.”

“Images linked to ISIS were found in Azayza’s possession, including a picture of former ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and another of an ISIS operative,” Sakharovich continued.

In a joint statement, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the police said: “Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, we have witnessed an escalation in the threat posed by ISIS and its supporters within Israel, including an increase in the involvement of Israeli Arabs in terrorism as a result of the war.”

ANHA