The Shin Bet released dramatic figures Thursday on counterterrorism activity among Negev residents, revealing that 72 people have been arrested for questioning since the start of 2025 on suspicion of involvement in activity endangering state security.
Sixty-seven of those arrested are Israeli citizens holding blue identity cards. According to the Shin Bet, indictments have already been filed against approximately 50 of the detainees.
Among the cases uncovered is a cell operating in Segev Shalom, consisting of five young residents of the town. According to investigation findings, the cell members sought to establish a "military battalion" in the town, inspired by Palestinian battalions in Judea and Samaria, and to carry out terror attacks through it.
The investigation, conducted following the arrests of cell members in May and June, revealed that the cell's leader worked over an extended period to establish the battalion, motivated by Palestinian identification. He also posted content on social media inciting against the State of Israel.
According to the suspicion, one cell member agreed to join the battalion and carry out attacks, including shooting at the Segev Shalom police station and a combined stabbing and shooting attack at the Be'er Sheva central bus station. His interrogation also revealed that he watched videos designed to teach him how to prepare explosive devices.
Another suspect agreed, according to the investigation, to join the battalion and serve as the "engineer" responsible for preparing explosives against security forces. A third suspect, young in age, agreed to join the infrastructure while simultaneously planning to carry out an independent attack using an explosive device after his release from detention. His interrogation further revealed that he supports the Islamic State organization and had planned for about two years to carry out a stabbing attack in the organization's name.
A fifth cell member also agreed to join the battalion and expressed willingness to carry out an attack at the Segev Shalom police station.
Another case came to light in July with the arrest of Abdallah Jarjawy, an Israeli citizen and Segev Shalom resident. According to the Shin Bet, his interrogation revealed that he incited to terrorism and planned to carry out an attack at "The Forum" club in Be'er Sheva. It was also alleged that he was in contact with activists identified with the Islamic State organization, expressed a desire to travel to the organization's combat zones abroad, and identified with terror organizations including the Islamic State and Hamas.
The Shin Bet emphasizes that serious terror-related indictments have been filed during the year against all the suspects mentioned in these cases at the Be'er Sheva District Court.
A senior Shin Bet source said the uncovered cases, alongside additional arrests carried out recently, "illustrate the security risk posed by the establishment of cells of Israeli citizen activists," including cells with "semi-military" characteristics seeking to advance terror attacks inside Israel.
According to the source, joint activity by the Shin Bet and Israel Police led to the exposure of the infrastructures, the arrest of those involved, and the thwarting of the plans before they materialized.
The Shin Bet says the uncovered cases point to a variety of attempts to advance terror activity by activists among Negev residents, and that intelligence gathering, threat monitoring, disruption of activity, and arrest of suspects enabled the thwarting of the attack plans before their execution.
