An Israeli Arab man has been indicted for allegedly supporting the Islamic State terror group and attempting to join its ranks in Syria, prosecutors confirmed Friday.
Adam Sarsour, 29, a resident of Kafr Qasim, was charged at the Kfar Saba Magistrate’s Court after a joint Shin Bet and police investigation claimed he had pledged allegiance to ISIS and disseminated extremist content online.
Security officials said Sarsour had allegedly consumed jihadist propaganda for a decade, connected with ISIS affiliates, and made two unsuccessful attempts to cross the Turkish-Syrian border in order to join the terror organisation.
He is further accused of taking an online oath to the group’s slain leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and “considered himself a member” of ISIS, according to a police statement.
During the war, the suspect distributed “dozens of violent videos” linked to ISIS, it added, referring to the ongoing Gaza conflict since 7 October.
The indictment claims Sarsour had shared this content on WhatsApp and other platforms, targeting fellow Arab-Israelis in his hometown.
Items allegedly seized from his home included a ring bearing the Seal of Muhammad, used on ISIS flags, and a digital pledge or loyalty to al-Baghdadi displayed in Hebrew.
It comes amid heightened domestic terror concerns: since 7 October, Israeli security services have opened 80 investigations into suspected Islamist activity by Arab-Israeli citizens, with 26 cases reportedly involving direct allegiance to ISIS or similar groups.
In March, a 17-year-old from Jisr az-Zarqa was arrested over a separate ISIS plot. Authorities found documents related to bomb-making and evidence he had repeatedly pledged loyalty to “the current caliph”.
No plea has been entered by Sarsour at this stage.
