Bedouin Man Sentenced to 24.5 Years for Infiltrating IDF for Gaza Terror Group

The Beersheba District Court sentenced Shehadeh Abu Al-Qiaan, a resident of the Negev's Bedouin community, to 24 and a half years in prison on Wednesday. He was convicted of collaborating with a Gaza-based terrorist organization and enlisting in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to gather military intelligence. Abu Al-Qiaan was found guilty of aiding the enemy during wartime and multiple terrorism and weapons offenses. He may also face revocation of his Israeli citizenship.

According to the indictment, Abu Al-Qiaan harbored a desire for revenge against Israel starting in 2019, following a demolition order issued for his father's home. In September of that year, he stole an M4 assault rifle, a magazine, and a laser sight from an Israeli soldier, concealing them near his residence. By 2021, he had initiated contact with Gaza terrorists via social media and Telegram, expressing a desire to join the armed wing of Hamas. He subsequently began working for the Kataeb al-Mujahideen terrorist organization, providing his contacts with photographs and intelligence on military bases, train stations, public companies, and shopping centers, as well as information on soldier and helicopter movements.

In May 2022, with his cousin's assistance, he transported an M4 rifle, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and five grenades into Judea and Samaria, leaving them at a cache for the terrorist group. Concurrently, on May 22, 2022, following instructions from his handlers in Gaza, Abu Al-Qiaan enlisted in the IDF with the objective of collecting information on Bedouin soldiers, bases, and military installations. However, his infiltration was quickly discovered, and he was arrested by security forces eight days after joining.

In December 2025, he confessed to the charges as part of a plea agreement. The court also imposed a suspended prison sentence and a fine of 25,000 shekels. Prosecutor Hofit Kantarovitz described the case as "exceptionally grave," highlighting that an Israeli citizen chose to collaborate with a terrorist organization and infiltrate the army to harm his country's security. She noted that Kataeb al-Mujahideen was involved in the murder of the Bibas family. The court also stated that Abu Al-Qiaan's file has been forwarded to the Interior Minister for consideration of nationality revocation.