Israel Seeks to Strip Citizenship from Two Security Prisoners Who Planned to Disable Cellcom Network

The Israeli government has filed a precedent-setting request to revoke the citizenship of two security prisoners convicted of aiding Hamas by planning to disable the Cellcom cellular network during wartime. The petition was submitted to the Central District Court on July 22, 2026, following approval from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also serves as Interior Minister, and the Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.

Rani Of and Shadi Aidi, residents of northern Israel and former Cellcom employees, exploited their extensive access to the company’s computer and infrastructure systems to assist Hamas. Of maintained ongoing contact with senior terror operatives in Turkey and, with Aidi’s help, transmitted sensitive information about Israeli communication infrastructure and security bypass methods. The two planned to disrupt Cellcom’s systems during a military operation, posing a significant cyber threat.

In 2024, Of was sentenced to 11 years in prison for conspiracy to aid the enemy, treason, and contact with a foreign agent, while Aidi received a 5.5-year sentence. The state’s petition, filed by attorneys Uri Kedar, Liran Pe’er, and Shiri Rom, describes their actions as an "extreme breach of loyalty" justifying citizenship revocation under the Citizenship Law’s criminal track. The government emphasized the ideological and nationalist motives behind their conduct and the heightened severity due to the planned attack’s timing during wartime.

This is the first time Israel has pursued citizenship revocation through the criminal route of the Citizenship Law for breach of loyalty. The state highlighted the potential damage from the planned cyberattack and framed the case as a clear example of betrayal against the country’s security.