Five Palestinians Indicted for Terror Plot Targeting Modiin Restaurant, Security Forces

Five Palestinians have been indicted in Jerusalem District Court on charges of terrorist activity and planning attacks against Israelis and security forces. The indictment details plots to carry out a bombing at a restaurant in Modiin and an attack on a checkpoint in Azaria. The charges also include illegal possession of weapons for terrorist purposes, as well as recruiting and attempting to recruit new members for a "sabotage group."

The prosecution has requested that the defendants be held in custody until the conclusion of their trial. All five individuals are residents of East Jerusalem and the Palestinian village of Akur in Samaria.

According to the indictment, Rashid Rashak and Sabih Abu-Sabih established the terrorist cell in early 2026. They were responsible for recruiting members, acquiring weapons, collecting funds, and securing safe houses. The plan was to establish cells in northern and southern Judea and Samaria, with a "D-day" set for early 2027 for carrying out attacks and killings.

Rashak, who previously served time in Israeli prison for terrorism and was released in January 2025 as part of a hostage exchange deal, had acquired a pistol, an M-16 rifle, ammunition, and other equipment. Sabih Abu-Sabih is the son of Musbah Abu-Sabih, who carried out an attack in October 2016 that killed two Israelis.

Muhammad Abu-Sabih, a recruited member, managed funds for the organization and assisted in hiding equipment and finding a safe house. The group also studied how to build explosives and recruited another member with expertise in this area after informing him of their attack plans.

Rashak also recruited Ahmad Bakri, an employee at the Modiin restaurant, tasking him with carrying out the attack there. Bakri was instructed to remain employed at the restaurant and was promised weapons and a bulletproof vest, along with training. Rashak and Abu-Sabih also planned to shoot at security forces at the Azaria checkpoint near East Jerusalem. The arrests of the defendants and others involved thwarted the organization's activities and its planned attacks.

Prosecutor Eyal Lidani stated, "This is a group that purchased weapons, recruited activists, and prepared to carry out attacks against civilians and security forces. One of the serious episodes reflected in the indictment is the request for one of the defendants to remain at work in a restaurant precisely when he was looking for other work, so that he could carry out the planned attack there. Daily familiarity with the workplace was intended to help him in carrying out the planned attack."