Israeli Man Sentenced to 24.5 Years for Aiding Terror Group, Infiltrating IDF

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

According to the indictment, Abu Alqian decided to seek revenge against Israel in 2019 after an administrative demolition order was 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 IDF soldier near Yatir, burying them near his home. Starting in 2021, he contacted Gaza-based 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, a terror operative known as "Abu Suleiman" contacted him to purchase weapons. Abu Alqian offered to sell him the stolen IDF rifle and insisted on delivering the weapons to the West Bank.

In May 2022, he recruited his cousin to assist. Together, they loaded the M4 rifle, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and five hand grenades into a vehicle and drove to the West Bank, where they hid the weapons for the terror organization. Simultaneously, under 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 to pass to 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 the amended indictment as part of the plea deal. His offenses included aiding an enemy in war, active membership in a terror organization, aggravated theft, weapons offenses, and using weapons for terror purposes. The prosecution requested a lengthy prison sentence, along with suspended 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 panel of judges, including Daniel Ben-Talila, Tal Lahiani Shaham, and Yoav Atar, imposed the sentence of 24.5 years in prison, a suspended sentence, and a fine of NIS 25,000. Prosecutor Hofit Kantrovitz stated that this was an "exceptionally severe case" where an Israeli citizen chose to act against the state, contact a terror organization, and enlist in the IDF to gather intelligence and harm national security. The Interior Ministry is also reviewing the cancellation of his citizenship. The sentence reflects the gravity of the acts, the harm to national security, and the need for significant deterrence, she added.