Israeli Court Releases Three Suspects to House Arrest After Alleged Attack on Police at Ben Gurion Airport

A day after a violent incident on a flight departing Ben Gurion Airport to Frankfurt, an Israeli magistrate court in Rishon Lezion ordered the release of three suspects to house arrest despite police requests to extend their detention by nine days. The suspects, two brothers from Jaffa and their friend from Bat Yam, face charges including assaulting a police officer, assaulting a public servant, preventing arrest by force, and insulting a public servant.

The incident reportedly began minutes before takeoff when the flight crew reported disruptive behavior by the three in the passenger cabin, endangering the flight. Police officers from the Ben Gurion Airport district boarded the plane and instructed the suspects to disembark, but they allegedly refused, leading to a violent confrontation during which four officers and two police volunteers were injured and required medical treatment.

One suspect is also under investigation for shouting a threatening statement referencing October 7 toward a female officer. Despite the police's argument that the suspects posed a danger warranting continued detention, Judge Ofir Ktavi Reblin ruled that house arrest with supervision was sufficient to mitigate the risk. The suspects’ attorney, Walid Kaboub, described them as "good people" whose only fault was wanting to vacation abroad and denied all allegations, expressing confidence in their eventual acquittal.

The court's decision reflects a balance between the seriousness of the charges and the current evidence, opting for a less restrictive alternative to pretrial detention. The investigation continues as the suspects remain under house arrest.