Israeli Court Sentences Man to 24.5 Years for Aiding Gaza Terror Group

The Be’er Sheva District Court sentenced Shahada Abu al-Qi’an, a resident of the Bedouin diaspora in the Negev, to 24 and a half years in prison today, Wednesday. He was convicted as part of a plea agreement of aiding the enemy during wartime, as well as terrorism and weapons offenses.

According to the ruling, Abu al-Qi’an acted on behalf of a terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip and even enlisted in the IDF at the direction of his handlers in order to gather intelligence. He also stole a weapon from an IDF soldier and later transferred weapons to the West Bank for the terrorist organization.

From Weapons Theft to Contact With Terror Operatives

According to the indictment filed by the Southern District Prosecutor’s Office, Abu al-Qi’an decided in 2019 to take revenge against the State of Israel and harm its security after an administrative demolition order was issued for his father’s home. In September of that year, he stole an M4 assault rifle, a magazine, and a laser sight from an IDF soldier in the Yatir area and buried them near his home.

Beginning in 2021, Abu al-Qi’an made contact through social media and Telegram with terrorist operatives in the Gaza Strip, expressed support for the struggle against Israel, and asked to join Hamas’s military wing. He later acted on behalf of the terrorist organization Kataib al-Mujahideen, providing his handlers with information and photographs of IDF bases, train stations, government companies, and shopping centers. He also reported on the movements of soldiers and helicopters in the area where he lived.

In March 2022, an operative from the terrorist organization known as “Abu Suleiman” contacted him and asked to purchase weapons. Abu al-Qi’an offered to sell him the weapon he had stolen from the IDF and insisted on transferring the weapons directly to the West Bank.

In May 2022, he recruited his cousin to help him. The two loaded an M4 rifle, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and five hand grenades into a vehicle and drove to the West Bank, where they placed the weapons in a hiding place for the terrorist organization.

Enlisted in the IDF to Gather Intelligence

At the same time, at the direction of his handler, Abu al-Qi’an enlisted in the IDF on May 22, 2022. According to the indictment, his aim was to collect information from within the military about Bedouin soldiers, army bases, and military locations and pass it to the terrorist organization. About eight days after enlisting, he was arrested by security forces and his activity was thwarted.

In December 2025, Abu al-Qi’an was convicted after admitting to the amended indictment as part of a plea agreement. He was found guilty of aiding the enemy during wartime, active membership in a terrorist organization, aggravated theft, weapons offenses involving possession and transportation, and weapons activity for terrorist purposes.

During sentencing arguments, the prosecution asked the court to impose a lengthy prison term, along with suspended sentences and a substantial fine. Prosecutors also emphasized the seriousness of Abu al-Qi’an’s ties to Kataib al-Mujahideen, which they said was involved in the murder of members of the Bibas family during the Swords of Iron War.

The panel of judges, Daniel Ben-Tolila, Tal Lahiani Shoham, and Yoav Atar, accepted the prosecution’s request.