15-Year-Old Charged with Terror Threats Against Soldiers via WhatsApp Voice Messages

The State Prosecutor's Office filed charges on Thursday against a 15-and-a-half-year-old minor from central Israel for threatening to carry out a terror attack against soldiers. The indictment, submitted by Attorney Hila Cohen Kadush of the Central District Prosecutor's Office to the Juvenile Magistrate's Court, states that earlier this month the minor posted a video in a WhatsApp group about dog breeding. The video showed a military vehicle near a cowshed, with the minor heard saying, "Here comes the army, may God shame them." Shortly after, the minor sent a voice message threatening to carry out a terror act against the soldiers, stating he intended to plant an explosive device and that he knew their location.

Despite warnings from a group member that his statements could lead to police involvement and arrest, the minor sent another voice message reiterating his threat to detonate the device. This prompted a group member to report the incident to the police, leading to an investigation and the filing of the indictment. The prosecution alleges the threats were ideologically motivated to instill fear or panic among the public. These claims are part of the indictment, and no judicial ruling has yet been made.

Alongside the indictment, the prosecution requested the court to maintain restrictive conditions on the minor until the legal proceedings conclude, including banning him from possessing a mobile phone or using social media. The court permitted publication of the indictment without revealing the minor's identifying details, in accordance with legal protections for juveniles.