Israeli security forces recently arrested a resident of the country’s north on suspicion of preparing to join ISIS in Somalia, the Israel Police revealed on Monday.
The suspect, who was identified as a 17-and-a-half-year-old male from the almost entirely Muslim village of ‘Ara northeast of Hadera, was apprehended by officers of the police’s Coastal District and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet).
The agencies said the suspect had made extensive preparations to join ISIS, including by writing a will, collecting funds, applying for a foreign passport and maintaining contact with “hostile elements” online.
Since Hamas launched its latest war against the Jewish state on Oct. 7, Israeli authorities have thwarted numerous ISIS-linked terrorist plots.
In April, four Arabs from eastern Jerusalem who had sworn allegiance to ISIS, two of whom planned to attack a police station near the capital’s Teddy sports stadium, were indicted in an Israeli court.
The previous month, Israeli security personnel arrested four Palestinians planning ISIS-inspired attacks against troops in Judea and Samaria.
On Jan. 22, security forces thwarted an ISIS-inspired attack that was to be carried out near the Knesset in Jerusalem.
Earlier this year, ISIS spokesman Abu Huthaifa al-Ansari called on the group’s supporters around the world to attack Jews and avenge the killing by the Israel Defense Forces of Hamas terrorists in Gaza.