Under a false identity: Egged driver from Shuafat suspected of death threats against Katz and Ben Gvir
According to the police, the suspect posted serious threats on social media against ministers Israel Katz and Itamar Ben Gvir while impersonating another person. The court extended his detention by five days after determining that there is a reasonable suspicion of the offenses and a fear of obstruction of the investigation.
Threatening messages published on social media against ministers Israel Katz and Itamar Ben Gvir, under a false identity, led to the arrest of Ahmad Abd al-Qader, a 30-year-old resident of the Shuafat refugee camp. The Magistrate's Court in Rishon LeZion extended his detention by five days.
In a hearing held today, the police representative painted a particularly serious picture. According to her, these are grave threats against elected officials, carried out while impersonating another person. If the suspect's plan had been executed, it would have triggered an extensive mobilization of security forces following a false scenario. She claimed that sending threatening messages under a false identity is a bold and dangerous act, and the level of the threats sent, reaching explicit death threats, was defined by her as "very high."
The investigator further noted that a few days ago, the suspect's neighbor was also arrested as part of the same case, but was later released. According to her, the suspect initially denied the allegations against him, but later began to cooperate with the investigators.
On the other hand, attorney Amar Hagar, representing the suspect on behalf of the Public Defender's Office, argued that this is a relatively "simple" case that does not fall under the serious offenses in the Penal Code, especially in light of the fact that the suspect cooperated with the investigation. She added that the suspect has no criminal record, this is his first arrest, he works as a driver for Egged and is a father — circumstances that she claims do not justify his continued detention.
Ultimately, Judge Israel Pat determined that there is a reasonable suspicion that the suspect committed the offenses attributed to him, and that there is a reasonable basis for the concern that he might endanger public safety, along with a real fear of obstruction of the investigation. The judge referred to the severity of the acts and the level of danger posed by the suspect, noting that a significant portion of the remaining investigative actions is still exposed to the risk of obstruction.
