Israeli Security Forces Arrest 'Death Battalion' Members Planning McDonald's Terror Attack in Beersheba

Four residents of Segev Shalom were arrested in May and June during a joint operation by the Yamash South counterterrorism unit, the Southern District police, and the Shin Bet. According to the indictment, the suspects planned a terror attack in Beersheba targeting Israeli security forces and civilians. Initially, one suspect intended to carry out a stabbing attack near the central bus station by a McDonald's branch, citing the presence of many soldiers and Israeli civilians there. Later, the plan shifted to a shooting attack using an M16 rifle or pistol to maximize casualties. The investigation also revealed plans to attack the police station in Segev Shalom. The suspect expressed a desire to become a martyr and admitted to attempting to establish an organization called the "Death Battalion," aimed at retaliating against police demolitions and, in a broader conflict, targeting Jews. The police emphasized that the arrests were part of a coordinated effort with Shin Bet to prevent the group from executing their plans.