Israeli Arab Youth Charged With Supporting Hamas, Inciting Violence Online

A 19-year-old resident of Shaqib al-Salam in the Negev has been indicted on charges of supporting Hamas and spreading incitement to terrorism on social media. The joint statement from the Israel Police and the Shin Bet security agency revealed that an investigation uncovered the suspect's online activities.

During interrogations by the Shin Bet and the Southern District Police's counter-terrorism unit, it was determined that in 2026, the suspect shared extremist content related to Hamas on social media. This content allegedly included incitement, praise for violence, and expressions of identification with the organization.

Among the suspect's posts were images and videos of Hamas operatives, footage from the October 7, 2023, attack, praise for the perpetrators and Hamas leadership, and content related to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. The posts also glorified attacks carried out in Israel and explicitly called for acts of violence and terrorism.

The suspect was arrested about a month prior to the indictment in Shaqib al-Salam by counter-terrorism forces from the National Guard in the Southern District, in cooperation with local police investigators. Following the investigation, the Southern District Prosecutor's Office filed the indictment against the suspect at the Beersheba Magistrate's Court on charges of inciting terrorism and identifying with Hamas.

The indictment includes security offenses related to incitement to terrorism and expressing identification with the Hamas organization.