Israeli Man Faces Serious Charges Over Air Rifle Despite Deadly Carlo Rifle Found Nearby

Ahmad Zoabi, a 36-year-old resident of Kfar Matzar near Mount Tabor in northern Israel, was indicted this week by the Northern District Prosecutor's Office for serious weapons offenses involving an air rifle. The indictment, filed at the Nazareth District Court, clarifies that under Israeli law, a sufficiently powerful air rifle is considered a lethal weapon. Zoabi faces charges of illegal possession, carrying, and transportation of weapons and ammunition without licenses.

The case gained complexity after police and Border Police forces raided Zoabi's property on May 31, 2026, discovering not only the air rifle inside his home but also a "Carlo" submachine gun, an improvised and highly dangerous firearm, found discarded in the yard. However, the Carlo rifle was excluded from the indictment due to evidentiary challenges; investigators lacked forensic proof linking the weapon directly to Zoabi.

The air rifle, often mistaken for a harmless recreational item, became the central focus of the prosecution. The indictment states Zoabi possessed the air rifle and compatible ammunition unlawfully over an unspecified period leading up to his arrest. He was also found carrying and transporting the weapon outside his home on multiple occasions.

Additionally, during the search, authorities seized two pistol magazines, two 5.56mm bullets, and one 9mm bullet from Zoabi's residence. The prosecution argues these items further demonstrate his unauthorized possession of lethal weapons and ammunition. Experts from the Israeli Police National Headquarters' weapons laboratory are expected to testify, scientifically confirming the air rifle's lethal potential, underpinning the severity of the charges against Zoabi.