Jerusalem Court Indicts Five Terror Cell Members for Planning Modiin Attack
The Jerusalem District Court indicted five individuals on Tuesday for establishing a terror cell that planned attacks against Israelis and security forces, including at a Modiin restaurant.
The State Attorney's Office filed an indictment on Tuesday in the Jerusalem District Court against five defendants from Jerusalem and Kafr Aqab for involvement in terrorist activities, including planning attacks against Jews and security forces at a restaurant in Modiin and the Azariya checkpoint.
The defendants are charged, according to their respective roles, with managing a terrorist organization, active membership in a terrorist organization, conspiracy and preparation for a terrorist act of murder under aggravating circumstances, weapons and property offenses for terrorist purposes, recruitment and attempted recruitment of members to a terrorist organization, and other offenses. The prosecution asked the court to order the detention of the defendants until the end of legal proceedings against them.
Terror Cell Planning and Recruitment
According to the indictment, filed by attorney Eyal Lidany from the Jerusalem District Prosecutor's Office, Rashid Rashak and Sabih Abu Sabih established a terrorist organization at the beginning of the year and worked to recruit members, purchase weapons, raise funds, and locate safe houses. The two planned to establish cells in the northern and southern West Bank, and prepare for a "day of command" in early 2027, during which the organization would carry out terror and murder attacks.
Rashak was released in January 2025 as part of the hostage release agreement, and Abu Sabih is the son of Masbah Abu Sabih, who carried out a fatal shooting attack in October 2016 in which two Israeli citizens were murdered. As part of the activity, Rashak purchased a handgun, an M-16 rifle, ammunition, and additional equipment. Muhammad Abu Sabih, who was recruited into the organization, kept funds intended for its activity, assisted in hiding equipment, and helped locate a safe house for the weapons.
The indictment also details that Muhammad Bakri instructed Rashak and Muhammad Abu Sabih on manufacturing explosive charges after they told him of their intention to carry out terrorist activities. According to the indictment, Rashak also recruited Ahmed Bakri, who worked at a restaurant in Modiin, and proposed that he carry out an attack there. To this end, he asked him to continue working at the location, and the two agreed that Rashak would provide him with a weapon and a vest and train him in their use. In addition, Rashak and Sabih Abu Sabih planned to carry out a shooting attack against security forces at the Azariya checkpoint.
Intervention and Prosecution Statement
The arrest of the defendants and other accomplices thwarted the organization's activities and its plans to carry out attacks.
«This is a terrorist cell that acquired weapons, recruited operatives, and prepared to carry out attacks against civilians and security forces. One of the most severe details in the indictment is the request made to one of the defendants to remain at his restaurant job, precisely when he was looking for other work, so that he could carry out an attack there. Familiarity with the workplace was intended to serve him in executing the planned attack,» said attorney Eyal Lidany from the Jerusalem District Prosecutor's Office.
Attorney Eyal Lidany emphasized the gravity of utilizing a routine workplace for orchestrating a mass-casualty terror attack.
