Israeli Bedouin Jailed 24.5 Years for Spying in IDF for Terror Group

An Israeli Bedouin citizen was sentenced to 24 and a half years in prison for enlisting in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on behalf of a terrorist organization to gather intelligence. Shahada Abu Alqian, a resident of the Negev's Bedouin diaspora, was also convicted of stealing a weapon from a soldier and transferring a rifle, thousands of bullets, and five hand grenades to the West Bank for the Hamas terror group. The judges noted the extreme nature of enlisting in the army as part of a terror mission, describing Abu Alqian as a "fifth columnist" within the military. They stated they had not encountered a similar case where the enlistment itself was part of terrorist activity.

According to the indictment, Abu Alqian decided in 2019 to seek revenge against Israel after an administrative demolition order was issued for his father's home. He stole an M4 rifle, a magazine, and a laser sight left by a sleeping soldier near Yatir, burying the weapons near his home. The court deemed this a planned act, demonstrating his commitment to harming the state. In 2021, he contacted an operative in Gaza via social media, expressing support for the fight against Israel and seeking to join the military wing of Hamas. He was later connected to an operative known as "Abu Suleiman," who initially claimed to be from the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades before revealing affiliation with the "Kata'ib al-Mujahideen" organization. Although initially disappointed he couldn't join Hamas, Abu Alqian eventually joined Kata'ib al-Mujahideen and acted on its behalf, reportedly refusing payment due to ideological motives.

Abu Alqian used aliases and self-destructing messages on Telegram to conceal his communications. He photographed an IDF base in the Shomria region and provided details about soldiers, including their names and phone numbers, to his handlers. He also reported on helicopters landing soldiers and military training exercises. While enlisting in the IDF in May 2022, under his handler's direction, he aimed to continue gathering information from within the military system. He sent his handler a photo of himself in uniform eight days before his arrest, which thwarted his activities.

Before his enlistment, in May 2022, Abu Alqian transported the stolen rifle, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and five hand grenades to the West Bank under "Abu Suleiman's" direction. He enlisted his cousin's help for the transport, without revealing the destination was a terror organization. They drove to the Hebron area, where Abu Alqian hid the weapons, deeming the initially assigned location unsafe. The judges highlighted his determination, initiative, and planning in this operation.

Abu Alqian was convicted in December 2025, as part of a plea deal, of aiding an enemy in wartime, active membership in a terror organization, aggravated theft, and weapons possession and transport for terror purposes. The court emphasized that his status as an Israeli citizen exacerbated the severity of his actions, noting the risk posed by transferring intelligence and soldier details to a terror group, and the potential harm from the weapons and ammunition. While his age, lack of prior criminal record, and confession were considered mitigating factors, the confession came late in the proceedings. He received four and a half years for the weapon theft and concealment, and an additional 20 years for his activities within the terror organization, served consecutively.

The Southern District Attorney's Office stated that Abu Alqian's details have been forwarded to the Interior Minister for consideration of revoking his citizenship. "This is a case of exceptional severity, where an Israeli citizen chose to act against the state, to maintain contact with a terror organization, and even to enlist in the IDF on behalf of a terror organization," said attorney Hofit Kantorovich, who managed the case. She added that the sentence reflects the damage to national security and the need for significant deterrence. The prosecution also stressed the severity of the connection with Kata'ib al-Mujahideen, which was involved in the abduction and murder of the Bibas family during the Swords of Iron War.