Fire Commissioner Responds to Terror Plot by National Service Volunteer

Israel Fire and Rescue Services Commissioner Eyal Caspi addressed on Wednesday a security incident involving a 19-year-old from Kafr Qasim who served as a volunteer firefighter during his national service. The individual was arrested on suspicion of promoting terrorist activities, planning attacks, and establishing a terror cell.

Caspi clarified that the suspect was a civilian service volunteer, not a certified firefighter, and held no operational role. Upon receiving information from the Israel Police, his service was immediately terminated by the Fire and Rescue Services independently, without external instruction, citing responsibility for the safety of the service and the public.

A comprehensive internal investigation has been launched to examine the handling of the incident, onboarding processes, existing control mechanisms, and future protocols for similar information. Caspi emphasized the importance of vigilance among all staff to identify unusual behavior and report it through the command chain.

The suspect, identified as Mustafa Issa, allegedly planned a major attack in central Israel, potentially targeting a strategic site he accessed through his volunteer role. Investigations suggest he became interested in terrorism at age 16 and underwent significant radicalization after the start of the war in Gaza, seeking ways to harm the state. He reportedly contacted foreign elements, including Hamas and an individual linked to Iranian intelligence, sought combat guides, and attempted to build explosives.

Caspi stressed that this is an isolated incident and does not reflect on the broader group of national service volunteers, who are valued for their significant contributions. He also urged responsible handling of information, deferring to the authorized security agencies conducting the investigation.