Terror Cell in East Jerusalem Foiled, Israeli Authorities Say; Group Was Allegedly Directed by PFLP Operative in France

A senior terrorist operative in the Popular Front, now based in France and previously involved in the attempted assassination of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, directed a terror cell in East Jerusalem. That is what the Shin Bet and Israel Police were cleared to publish today (Tuesday).

In a joint statement, Shin Bet and police spokespersons said that five East Jerusalem residents were arrested during November and December 2025. The terrorists, operatives of the Popular Front organization, were recruited by Salah Hamouri, who operates as part of the "Shiite axis" to advance military terror activity inside اسرائیل.

Hamouri, a lawyer by training, was involved, among other things, in the attempted assassination of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef in 2005. Because of his involvement in terror activity, Hamouri's Israeli residency was revoked in 2022, and he moved to France, where he holds citizenship.

Since then, Hamouri has remained in contact with terror operatives working on behalf of the Shiite axis to direct attacks and terror activity inside Israel. The Shin Bet and police said that "Hamouri exploits his background and his connections to areas inside Israel in order to recruit local terror operatives, while at the same time promoting overt activity on the Palestinian issue. The terror activity he advances is carried out covertly in parallel, under the cover of legitimate activity."

As part of the Shin Bet investigation, it emerged that during 2024 and 2025, Hamouri met with members of the cell in various locations across Europe and recruited them to build an infrastructure for carrying out terror activity in Israel. For that purpose, Hamouri, among other things, provided those he recruited with a phone for encrypted communications. In addition, the investigation found that various actions taken by members of the network to advance terror activity in the Jerusalem area had been uncovered.

Today, authorities said that indictments were filed against two of those involved, brothers Yazid and Saeed Dadu. They were charged with active membership in a terror organization, prohibited use of property for terror purposes, conspiracy to commit a crime, and attempted conspiracy to commit a criminal offense that constitutes an act of terror.