Three Israelis Indicted for Supplying Weapons to Terrorist Behind Deadly June Attack

The Israeli State Prosecutor's Office filed a serious indictment on Thursday against three Israeli citizens accused of supplying weapons to the terrorist who carried out a deadly shooting attack in early June in the West Bank settlements of Kochav Ya'ir and Tzur Natan. The indictment, submitted to the Central District Court in Lod, reveals details of the chain of events leading to the murder of reserve sergeant Haim Klumity and injuries to five other civilians.

The accused are Aldin Jaheim (25) and Wam Matzarwa (24) from Tayibe, and Mohammad Aftima (22) from Baqa al-Gharbiyye. They face severe weapons charges including trafficking, purchasing, possession, and transportation of firearms. Matzarwa is also charged with failing to prevent a terrorist act despite knowing about the planned attack.

According to the indictment, the terrorist, Omar Yassin, had prior connections with the defendants through weapons and drug dealings. About two weeks before the June 7 attack, Aftima sold Yassin a Carlo-type rifle for 5,000 shekels at a gas station in Baqa al-Gharbiyye, with Jaheim contributing to the payment. Matzarwa drove Yassin to purchase the weapon and hid it under his car's hood. Disturbingly, on the way back, Yassin told Matzarwa of his intent to carry out an attack and invited him to join, but Matzarwa refused and failed to report the plan to security authorities, enabling the attack to proceed.

Further, Matzarwa hosted Yassin at his home for a meeting with a drug and weapons dealer, where Yassin was paid with an AK-47 rifle. Matzarwa concealed this weapon in an olive grove near his home and later exchanged it for a Glock pistol. The prosecution requested the defendants remain in custody until trial and asked to confiscate the vehicle used in the weapons offenses.

The attack by Omar Yassin involved shootings at multiple locations including Kochav Ya'ir, Tzur Yitzhak, and Sela'it, resulting in one death and five injuries before Yassin was killed by Tayibe police after a brief chase. The Shin Bet and Israel Police investigation uncovered the defendants' involvement in supplying the weapons used in the attack.