Four Arab Israeli citizens from the Bedouin town of Segev Shalom have been indicted after Israeli authorities uncovered what officials described as a Hamas-linked terror cell planning a mass-casualty attack at Beersheba’s central bus station, along with additional attacks targeting police and security forces.

According to a joint statement from the Israel Police and Shin Bet, the suspects were arrested during undercover Border Police operations in May and June 2026 following a joint investigation that exposed the terror network before it could carry out its plans.

Investigators said the group initially planned to carry out a stabbing attack at the Beersheba central station but later decided to obtain firearms and launch a mass shooting instead, believing knives would not be effective enough.

Authorities said the suspects also planned to open fire on the Segev Shalom police station, establish a local terror infrastructure, and target Israeli security personnel operating in the community. Their primary objective, investigators said, was to attack soldiers in public places.

According to prosecutors, the alleged leader of the cell began building the network following the 2021 Jewish-Arab riots. He allegedly created social media accounts that spread Hamas propaganda, jihadist content, footage from the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre, praise for terrorists, and calls for armed struggle and martyrdom.

Through those online activities, prosecutors say he recruited the other members, assigning each a nickname, including referring to one suspect who downloaded bomb-making videos as the group’s “engineer.”

The indictment charges the four suspects with conspiracy to commit an act of terror and receiving terrorist training or instruction. The alleged leader also faces additional charges of incitement to terrorism and identifying with a terrorist organization.

Israeli authorities said one of the suspects was arrested while allegedly on his way to carry out an attack.

In a joint statement, the Israel Police and Shin Bet said, “This is a serious terrorist organization in which young Israeli citizens planned to carry out terrorist activity. This intention was thwarted in advance by the Israel Police and the Israel Security Agency before the suspects were able to take steps to carry out their plan.”

Officials added that they “view with the utmost severity any involvement of Israeli citizens in terrorist activity” and pledged to continue working “to thwart terrorist intentions and bring those involved in terrorism offenses to the fullest extent of the law.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)