Israeli Security Forces Arrest Negev Bedouin Suspected of Planning Car Bomb Attack in Beersheba Club

Israeli police and the Shin Bet security service have arrested Abdullah Gargawi, a 20-year-old resident of the Negev Bedouin 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 police and Shin Bet. Authorities revealed that Gargawi had been in contact with a foreign agent and possessed illegal weapons while preparing for a terror attack.

Investigations showed that Gargawi had been exposed for an extended period 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 one claiming to be a Palestinian terrorist operative, and participated in Telegram groups exchanging ISIS and terror-related content.

Further findings indicated Gargawi was involved in manufacturing explosives and assembling an improvised explosive device intended for use in the planned attack. He allegedly held an illegal M16-style firearm with ammunition and had discharged it in an open area during March and April 2026. In 2025, he reportedly possessed multiple weapons at his home, including a MAC-10, Kalashnikov, Negev machine gun, M16, magazines, and ammunition.

The Southern District Prosecutor's Office filed a serious indictment against Gargawi at the Beersheba District Court, charging him with security offenses and illegal possession of weapons and ammunition. The authorities emphasized that the planned terror attack was thwarted in advance through coordinated efforts by Israeli police and Shin Bet before it could be carried out.