Israeli resident charged over ISIS ties, marking fourth in under two weeks

A 19-year-old resident of northern Israel has become the fourth person from the region indicted over alleged ties to ISIS in less than two weeks.

Prosecutors charged Yaqoub Shibli, from the northern village of Shibli, with membership in a terrorist organization. The indictment was filed at the Nof Hagalil-Nazareth Magistrate’s Court after his arrest on August 16 in a joint operation by the Shin Bet and the Israel Police Northern District’s central investigative unit.

Investigators allege that Shibli expressed support for ISIS, watched material produced by the organization and pledged allegiance to it. His case follows three other indictments filed against northern residents since August 28.

The concentrated series of cases includes two alleged plots against Israeli security forces and a former IDF soldier accused of training to join ISIS abroad. Prosecutors previously charged a 16-year-old from the Galilee and Ibrahim Kaabia, 19, of Haifa, after authorities alleged that both had pledged allegiance to ISIS and separately developed plans to attack security forces. Police and the Shin Bet said the minor searched online for instructions to make an explosive belt and intended to attack police officers and soldiers at the Temple Mount. Kaabia allegedly planned to attack an IDF base in northern Israel, a claim his attorney denied.

In another case, prosecutors charged Khamis Su’ad, 30, of Huseiniya in the Galilee, with training or receiving instruction for terrorist purposes. The indictment alleges that Su’ad, who served in the IDF from 2017 to 2019, increasingly identified with ISIS from 2023 and later planned to travel to Syria or Africa to join the organization. Authorities also allege that he saved money for the journey and viewed training material on combat, weapons, missiles and drones.

The four cases involve different levels of alleged conduct, from viewing ISIS material and pledging allegiance to preparing attacks or training to fight abroad. Police and the Shin Bet said they would continue acting against Israeli citizens seeking to operate on behalf of terrorist organizations.

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He was a loyal citizen.