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

A Beersheba District Court sentenced Shahada Abu Alqian, a resident of the Negev's Bedouin population, to 24 and a half years in prison on Wednesday. Abu Alqian was convicted under a plea deal for aiding an enemy during wartime and for terror and weapons offenses. He acted on behalf of a terror organization from the Gaza Strip, even enlisting in the IDF at his handlers' direction to gather intelligence.

Abu Alqian also stole a rifle from an IDF soldier and later transferred weapons to the West Bank for the terror group. The indictment revealed that in 2019, following an administrative demolition order for his father's home, Abu Alqian decided to seek revenge against Israel. In September 2019, he stole an M4 assault rifle, a magazine, and a laser sight from an IDF soldier near Yatir, burying them near his home.

Starting in 2021, Abu Alqian contacted Gaza terror operatives via social media and Telegram, expressing support for the fight against Israel and seeking to join Hamas's military wing. He subsequently acted for the terror group Kata'ib Al-Mujahideen, providing his handlers with information and photos of IDF bases, train stations, government companies, and shopping centers, and reporting on troop and helicopter movements.

In March 2022, an operative known as "Abu Sulaiman" contacted Abu Alqian to purchase weapons. Abu Alqian offered to sell him the stolen IDF rifle and insisted on delivering the weapons directly to the West Bank. In May 2022, he enlisted his cousin to help load the M4 rifle, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and five hand grenades into a vehicle. They drove to the West Bank and hid the weapons for the terror organization.

Concurrently, following his handler's instructions, Abu Alqian enlisted in the IDF on May 22, 2022, intending to gather intelligence from within the army about Bedouin soldiers, bases, and military locations for the terror group. He was arrested by security forces about eight days after his enlistment, thwarting his activities.

In December 2025, Abu Alqian was convicted after admitting to a revised indictment as part of the plea deal. Charges included aiding an enemy in wartime, active membership in a terror organization, aggravated theft, weapons offenses, and using weapons for terror purposes. The prosecution sought a lengthy prison sentence, conditional sentences, and a significant fine, emphasizing 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 Abu Alqian to 24.5 years in prison, a suspended sentence, and a fine of 25,000 shekels. The Southern District Attorney's Office stated that the sentence reflects the severity of the acts and the need for significant deterrence. The defendant's details were also transferred to the Interior Minister for consideration of citizenship revocation.