Israeli Arab plotted to abduct IDF soldier in bid to force end to Gaza war

Israeli Arab terrorist charged after he planned to kidnap IDF soldiers and hold them hostage while demanding Israel end its war against Hamas in Gaza.

By World Israel News Staff

An Israeli Arab terrorist has been arrested and indicted after he plotted to kidnap IDF soldiers in a bid to force an end to the war in the Gaza Strip, prosecutors said on Thursday.

The suspect has been identified as 22-year-old Amin Hassan Abd al-Qader Azzam, a resident of the Arab-Israeli town of Tayibe in central Israel.

According to a charge sheet filed by the Central District Attorney’s Office, during the course of the ongoing war against the Hamas terror organization in Gaza, Azzam became determined to bring the conflict to a halt.

To this end, he decided to form a terrorist cell whose goal would be to abduct Israeli soldiers and hold them hostage, conditioning their return on Israel ending the war in the Gaza Strip.

Azzam reached out to the Hamas terror organization via websites which posed as representatives of the terror group, and through social media platforms, including Hamas’ unofficial Telegram channel, “Gedud al-Shahid Izz al-Din al-Qassam.”

As part of his preparations for the abductions, Azzam practiced military tactics during paintball practice, and downloaded training manuals from Hamas.

In addition, Azzam tried to purchase firearms and tactical gear including a bullet-proof vest and radio, and to recruit additional terrorists for his cell, while seeking a fatwa, or Islamic religious authorization, for his plan.

Prosecutors have petitioned the Lod District Court to have Azzam kept in custody until the end of this trial, citing the immediate security threat he presents to security personnel.

The indictment filed against Azzam includes charges of preparing to commit a terrorist act of kidnapping, for the purpose of either murder or extortion.