Bedouin Man from Negev Arrested for Planning Car Bomb Attack on Beersheba Club

Israeli security forces have arrested Abdullah Gargawi, a 20-year-old Bedouin resident of the Negev town of Segev Shalom, on suspicion of planning a car bomb attack at the Forum nightclub in Beersheba. The arrest took place on July 19, 2026, following a joint investigation by the Southern District Central Unit of the Israel Police and the Shin Bet security service. Authorities revealed that Gargawi had been in contact with a foreign agent, possessed illegal weapons, and was preparing explosives for a terror attack.

Investigations showed Gargawi had long been exposed to ISIS-related content on social media, identified with the group's ideology, and consumed terror-related materials. He also communicated with individuals online, including someone claiming to be a Palestinian terrorist, and participated in Telegram groups exchanging ISIS and terror content. During March and April 2026, he allegedly held an illegal M16-type firearm and fired it in an open area. In 2025, he reportedly possessed multiple weapons at his home, including a MAC-10, Kalashnikov, Negev machine gun, M16 rifle, magazines, and ammunition.

The Southern District Prosecutor's Office filed serious charges against Gargawi this morning at the Beersheba District Court, including security offenses and illegal possession of weapons and ammunition. The coordinated operation by the police and Shin Bet successfully thwarted the planned terror attack before it could be carried out.