ISA Spokesperson following Amiel Yarchi's publication:
The Shin Bet reveals that since the beginning of the year 2026, 72 residents of the Negev and the South, 67 of them Israeli citizens with a blue ID card, have been arrested for investigation by the Shin Bet, who are suspected of security activities that endanger the security of the state, including those suspected of intentions to promote terrorist activity, illegal smuggling across the borders, and more.
Establishment of a military cell in Segev Shalom inspired by the phenomenon of Palestinian battalions in Judea and Samaria:
During May and June 2026, five suspects, residents of the Negev, were arrested for ISA interrogation. The investigation revealed that the cell members, young Israeli citizens residing in Segev Shalom, planned to advance terror activity and establish a military battalion in the town, inspired by the military battalions in Judea and Samaria. The cell members planned to carry out attacks in various formats as part of the military battalion's activity:
1. The head of the cell operated for a long period to establish a military battalion inspired by the terror battalions in Judea and Samaria, and out of Palestinian affinity. In addition, he incited on his social media accounts against the State of Israel, thereby encouraging terror activity.
2. Another cell member agreed to the infrastructure head's proposal to carry out attacks (a shooting attack against a police station in Segev Shalom and a stabbing and shooting attack at the Be'er Sheva Central Station) and to join a military battalion. He also watched videos through which he learned to manufacture explosives. Another cell member even agreed to join the military battalion and serve as the battalion's "engineer" responsible for preparing explosives against Israeli security forces.
3. Another cell member, a young man, also gave his consent to join the infrastructure, while planning on his own to carry out an attack independently using an explosive device upon his release from detention. It also emerged from his interrogation that he supports the Islamic State organization and that he had planned to carry out a stabbing attack in the organization's name for about two years.
4. A fifth cell member, who agreed to join the military battalion, expressed agreement to carry out an attack as part of the cell's activity at the Segev Shalom police station.
Planning an attack at a club in Be'er Sheva:
During July 2026, Abdullah Jerjawi, an Israeli citizen residing in the town of Segev Shalom, was arrested for ISA interrogation. His interrogation revealed that he incited to terror, planned to carry out an attack in the city of Be'er Sheva at the "Forum" club, was in contact with Islamic State operatives, and expressed an intention to go to Islamic State combat arenas abroad, all while identifying with various terror organizations, including the Islamic State and Hamas.
Serious indictments were filed this year in the Be'er Sheva District Court against all the suspects, charging them with severe terror offenses.
A senior Shin Bet official: These investigations, together with additional arrests that have been carried out, illustrate the security risk posed by the establishment of active squads of Israeli citizens, some of them military agents, who seek to promote terrorist attacks on Israeli territory, and whose activities have been cut short due to countermeasures by the Shin Bet and the Israel Police.
The cases demonstrated above show that within a short period of time, various operatives, residents of the Negev, were exposed who sought to advance terror activity in various formats against Israeli targets, posing a real risk to state security. ISA activity, through intelligence gathering and threat monitoring, disrupting activity, and arresting those involved for interrogation, thwarted their intentions to carry out severe and dangerous terror activity.