The Jerusalem District Attorney's Office recently filed an indictment in the city’s District Court against five men, residents of Jerusalem and Kafr 'Aqab, for their deep involvement in planned terrorist activities. According to the prosecution, the indictment includes a series of grave charges, including managing and membership in a terrorist organization, conspiracy and preparation to commit murder under aggravated circumstances, as well as weapons offenses, property crimes, and the recruitment of additional members. The State has requested that the court order the detention of all defendants until the conclusion of legal proceedings.
According to the details in the indictment, submitted by Adv. Eyal Lidani, the infrastructure was established at the beginning of the year by two of the defendants: Rashid Rashak and Sabih Abu Sabih. They allegedly worked to build an organizational framework that included recruiting members, raising funds, securing safe houses, and acquiring weaponry. A prominent detail in the indictment is the identity of the defendant, Rashak, who was released from prison in January 2025 as part of the hostage release deal. Additionally, it appears that Sabih Abu Sabih is the son of the terrorist who carried out a deadly attack in 2016.
The operational plan described in the indictment was extensive, with the ultimate goal set by those involved for a "day of reckoning" planned for 2027. Ahead of this date, the defendants worked to establish field cells in Judea and Samaria. As part of the thwarted actions, Ahmad Bakri, who worked at a restaurant in Modi'in, was recruited. According to the indictment, he was asked to continue working at the location to serve as an inside actor for an attack within the restaurant. For this purpose, it was agreed that he would be provided with a weapon and a protective vest. Simultaneously, members of the cell planned to carry out a targeted shooting attack against security forces at the Azariya checkpoint.
Adv. Eyal Lidani from the District Attorney's Office noted that the investigation uncovered a complex network that included practical training. For instance, another defendant named Muhammad Bakri is accused of instructing Rashak and Muhammad Abu Sabih on methods for preparing explosive devices after becoming aware of their intentions to carry out terrorist activity. The arrest of the five, which followed intelligence activities by security forces, led to the thwarting of the mentioned plans. These are allegations detailed in an indictment, and the court will have to determine the veracity of these matters during the trial.