Nazareth Man Indicted for Plotting Explosive Drone Attack on Israeli National Security Minister

A serious indictment was filed against Muhammad Awad from Nazareth on Thursday following a joint investigation by the Shin Bet and police. Awad is accused of planning to attack Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's Minister of National Security, using an explosive drone or a remote-controlled missile. The motive reportedly stems from Awad's desire for revenge after the killing of his friend, 25-year-old Tawfiq Abu Lashin, in a shooting incident in Nazareth over a year ago.

According to the indictment, Awad viewed Ben-Gvir as responsible for escalating crime and violence in the Arab sector and harming the Muslim public in Israel. In March 2026, Awad attempted to enlist Hamas's support to obtain resources for his plan, but his request was denied. Over the past two years, he studied missile technology and explosive mechanisms online, watching videos on ballistic missile construction and how to build explosive devices, often using browsing history concealment to hide his research.

The investigation revealed that Awad gathered information about Ben-Gvir's residence near Hebron and devised operational plans to carry out the attack. He designed models of an explosive drone and a guided missile and searched for materials to build them. However, realizing he lacked the necessary means, he ceased building the models but continued researching online.

Awad's public defender, Attorney Nizar Abud, stated that his client has complex medical issues and argued that rehabilitative treatment should take precedence over incarceration, emphasizing the need for a therapeutic framework rather than imprisonment.