Israel Seeks to Strip Citizenship from Two Security Prisoners Who Planned to Disable Cellcom Network
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Israel has requested to revoke the citizenship of two prisoners convicted of aiding Hamas by planning to disable the Cellcom network during wartime. The unprecedented legal move follows their convictions for treason and espionage, with sentences of 11 and 5.5 years. The government cited their extreme breach of loyalty and the potential harm to national security as grounds for the citizenship cancellation.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel seeks to revoke citizenship of two prisoners convicted of aiding Hamas in cyber sabotage.
- Rani Of and Shadi Aidi planned to disable Cellcom’s network during wartime to assist Hamas.
- Of was sentenced to 11 years, Aidi to 5.5 years for treason and espionage offenses.
- The request is the first criminal-track citizenship revocation under Israel’s Citizenship Law.
- The government cited extreme breach of loyalty and ideological motives behind the planned attack.
- The planned cyberattack posed significant potential damage to Israel’s communication infrastructure.
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.
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