Lengthy Prison Sentence for Negev Resident Who Enlisted in IDF for Terror Group

A court sentenced Shahada Abu al-Qian to roughly 25 years in prison for spying for a Gazan terror group and stealing weapons, amid deliberations over revoking his citizenship.

The Beersheba District Court handed down a lengthy prison sentence to Shahada Abu al-Qian, a Bedouin resident of the Negev who enlisted in the IDF on behalf of a Gaza-based terror group to gather intelligence, Walla and i24NEWS reported. Discrepancies emerged regarding the exact length of the term: Walla reported a sentence of 24 and a half years, while i24NEWS cited 25 years.

Abu al-Qian was also convicted of stealing a weapon from an IDF soldier and transferring armaments to the West Bank for the terror group; he was arrested roughly eight days after enlisting. In addition, according to i24NEWS, authorities are examining the revocation of his citizenship.