Bedouin Man Sentenced to 24.5 Years for Spying for Terror Group While in IDF

A Bedouin man from the Negev who enlisted in the IDF with the aim of gathering intelligence for a Gaza-based terror organization was sentenced to 24 and a half years in prison on Wednesday. Shahada Abu Alqian was convicted of aiding an enemy in wartime, terror offenses, and weapons offenses. He stole an M4 rifle from an IDF soldier, transferred weapons to the West Bank, and provided his handlers with information on security forces' facilities and movements. His activities were thwarted just eight days after his enlistment.

According to the amended indictment, to which he confessed as part of a plea deal, the affair began in 2019 after an administrative demolition order was issued for his father's home. In response, Abu Alqian decided to seek revenge against Israel. In September of that year, he stole an M4 rifle, a magazine, and a laser sight from an IDF soldier near Yattir, burying them near his home.

In 2021, Abu Alqian began contacting terror operatives in Gaza via social media and Telegram, expressing support for the fight against Israel and seeking to join Hamas's military wing. He subsequently acted on behalf of the terror group "Kata'ib al-Mujahideen," providing his handlers with information and photos of IDF bases, train stations, government companies, and shopping centers. He also reported on the movements of soldiers and helicopters in his area.

In March 2022, a terror operative known as "Abu Suleiman" contacted him to purchase weapons. Abu Alqian offered to sell him the rifle stolen from the IDF soldier, insisting on transferring the weapon directly to the West Bank. Two months later, he recruited his cousin to assist in the mission. They loaded the M4 rifle, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and five hand grenades into a vehicle, drove to the West Bank, and hid the weapons for the terror organization.

Concurrently with his activities for the organization, and under the direction of his handler in Gaza, Abu Alqian enlisted in the IDF on May 22, 2022. His goal was to use his military service to gather information on Bedouin soldiers, bases, and military locations for his handlers. However, he was arrested by security forces just eight days later, and his operation was foiled. In December 2025, Abu Alqian was convicted after confessing to the charges. The prosecution emphasized the severity of his ties to "Kata'ib al-Mujahideen," which was involved in the murder of the Bibas family during the "Swords of Iron" war. The judges sentenced him to 24 and a half years in prison, a suspended sentence, and a fine of NIS 25,000.