‘Planned to force Israel to end Gaza war’: Tayibe man indicted for IDF soldier kidnapping plot

Azzam had consumed on social media, including on the Telegram app, Hamas-related content.

Amin Hassan Abdel Kader Azzam, 22, from Tayibe, was indicted on Thursday for planning to kidnap an IDF soldier. Azzam plotted to use the soldier as leverage to force Israel to end the war in Gaza. This kidnapping plan became the focal point of the indictment.

The Tayibe resident was arrested on August 24 and was charged with the preparation to commit an act of terrorism – namely, kidnapping – for the purpose of murder or extortion.

Azzam had consumed on social media, including on the Telegram app, Hamas-related content or content by users aligning themselves with the terrorist group.

Specifically, Azzam found his way to the official Telegram group of Hamas’s military wing, the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades. Hamas was designated a terrorist organization by the State of Israel in 1989, two years after its founding.

In the Hamas-led cross-border massacre attack on October 7, terrorists killed 1,200 people, wounded about 5,200, and kidnapped 251, mostly civilians, as hostages back to the Gaza Strip.

Israel then launched a war against Hamas, which, per Hamas-affiliated Gazan health authorities, has killed over 65,000 people. The terrorist organization continues to hold 48 hostages as bargaining chips to demand the end of the war and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave.

The Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades Telegram group includes official announcements by Hamas. Azzam expressed in interrogations his “murderous ideological outlook,” and his sincere wish to kidnap a soldier, the indictment reads.

He had also taken paintball sessions as a form of military training and to enhance his weapon readiness.

With the war raging, Azzam decided he would plan to kidnap soldiers to be used as a bargaining chip against Israel and to force it to end the war in Gaza.

To start, around June, Azzam downloaded a book containing Hamas’s philosophies to his phone, which also explains its war tactics. He had also planned to enlist others in his scheme, specifically to acquire weapons to carry it out.

To acquire the weapons, Azzam contacted a man named Ahmed Kassem. He spoke to Kassem about the situation in Gaza and explained his view that what is necessary to counter it is an act against Jews. All of these conversations were carried out face-to-face, while the phones of both men were switched off.

Kassem encouraged Azzam in his mission, and in July, Azzam shared his plan with Kassem and asked him to provide the necessary weapons. He agreed and explained that he would be able to deliver the weapons only in parts and that Azzam would have to construct them himself.

It is permissible in Islam to kidnap soldiers, Azzam understands

Also in July, Azzam inquired about a religious justification for his plan. He reached out to Suleiman Jabali and asked if, according to Islam, it is allowed to kidnap people to be used as bargaining chips. The indictment explains that Azzam understood from Jabali’s answer that it is forbidden to kidnap civilians, but is permissible to kidnap soldiers.

Around this time, Azzam approached another man, Waseem Masarwa, and invited him to join in the planned terrorist kidnapping. Azzam understood that he was enthusiastic and even offered to recruit another person for the job.

Azzam met Kassem one more time in August, and Kassem said he was looking into the possibility of acquiring a gun or an assault rifle. Azzam then informed Masarwa that he was set to receive the weapon parts soon so that they could proceed with the plan.

Closer to his arrest date, Azzam ordered an Internet radio set and a tactical vest.