The Israel Police and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) revealed on Thursday that an indictment has been filed against three terrorists from Hebron who formed a terror cell with the intent to assassinate National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and his son.
The indictment, submitted earlier this week to the military court, alleges that the primary suspect, Isma'il Ibrahim Awadi, began assembling a military cell in June 2024. Awadi sought to acquire weapons and produce explosives to target security personnel.
To advance these plans, Awadi reportedly reached out to Hamas and Hezbollah for financial and operational support. The indictment details how Awadi gathered intelligence on Minister Ben Gvir's travel patterns, including the vehicles used and the accompanying security team. He even considered striking during Ben Gvir’s visits to terrorist attack sites, which the minister often attended.
Commander of the Shai District, Moshe Pinchi, emphasized the gravity of the case: "This is an extremely serious incident that demonstrates the relentless efforts of our enemies to carry out terrorist activities within Israel. Their aim was to harm a senior minister, his son, security forces, and civilians. The successful investigation and arrest of the terror cell, along with their indictment, mark a significant step in combating terrorism and ensuring public and personal safety."
* Kikar Shabbat contributed to this article.
