A joint announcement today from the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet acknowledged that a terror cell ideologically and religiously associated with the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) was arrested last November. According to the report, the first Palestinian cell of this type, in which the acts of terror were to be conducted in the name of the Islamic State, was composed of three members and based in Hebron.
Arrested cell members were Muhammad Zaru, 21, Ahmad Shehadeh, 22, and Qusai Masawdeh, 23. According to the IDF and the Shin Bet, the mission of these cell members was to engage in a campaign of terror against both Israeli citizens and soldiers.
The Islamic State has allegedy recruited hundreds of zealots from across the Middle East and Europe.
According to the report, one of the first acts of terror being planned was to kidnap and murder an IDF soldier. The cell then planned to use his uniform and weapons to wage additional attacks against Israelis. Following interrogations of the suspects, several explosive devices were also found.
Zaru was indicted for participation in an outlawed organization. It is expected that Shehadeh and Masawdeh will be indicted within the next week.
