A 65-year-old resident of Tuba-Zangariyye, a Bedouin town in Israel’s north, was arrested on June 29 on suspicion of inciting terrorism and identifying with Islamic State (ISIS) and Hamas, the Israel Police said on Monday.
The man allegedly disseminated messages on social media echoing Islamist content.
One such message, from Hamas spokesman Abu Obaida, was, “The Islamic nation will not rise, nor will it have a place among the nations, until this holy land is cleansed of the impurity of the occupiers,” according to Israeli daily Israel Hayom.
After locating the social media account holder, Northern District police officers apprehended him at his home on Sunday, the police statement read.
An ISIS flag hanging on the wall of the man’s living room, a few firearms with magazines, as well as two machetes, were found in the suspect’s home, police added.
The man was interrogated at the police station and will be brought later on Monday before the Kiryat Shmona Magistrate’s Court, where police will request to extend his detention, Israel Hayom reported.
In May, Israeli security forces arrested an Arab citizen who planned to carry out a terrorist attack inspired by ISIS, the Israel Police and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) said.
The suspect, identified only as a minor from the Negev, was arrested “on suspicion of intending to carry out terror activity inspired by the Islamic State organization,” the agencies stated.
According to authorities, the minor considered himself an operative on behalf of ISIS after swearing allegiance to the group and attempted to recruit additional terrorists to become part of the cell.
The suspect allegedly also “consumed and published extremist content that expresses identification with ISIS and incites terrorism.”
Also in May, according to the Israel Police, Israeli security forces arrested a resident of the central Arab-Israeli city of Kafr Qasim on suspicion of attempting to join the Islamic State terrorist organization in Syria.
The suspect, identified as Adam Sarsur, 28, was taken into custody by police officers and ISA agents.
According to the investigation conducted by the Shin Bet and Sharon District Police, Sarsur consumed pro-ISIS content on social media and established contact with an individual affiliated with the organization.
Police said that the suspect subsequently pledged allegiance to the terrorist organization and had “considered himself a member” of ISIS.
Sarsur was said to have actively disseminated ISIS content to fellow Arab Israelis in his hometown and attempted twice to travel to Syria to join the group, traveling from Turkey. Both attempts were unsuccessful.