Islamic State praises stabbing attacks against Israelis
Terrorist group publishes videos on social media with the hashtag #BeheadtheJew, calls to liberate Jerusalem
A series of videos glorifying the wave of deadly stabbing attacks against Israelis was released Sunday by the Islamic State terrorist group, in an unusual step by the extremist organization, which tends to steer clear of commenting on the situation in Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
The videos, bearing such titles as “Project Behead the Jews” and “Message to the Mujahedin in Jerusalem,” were uploaded from sites under Islamic State control in Syria and northern Iraq. Some of the videos spread on social media and were accompanied by the hashtag #BeheadtheJew.
“I recommend that you take the path of Jihad, which God tells you to follow, I bless this jihad against the Jews. Strike fear in their hearts, they are the enemies of God,” a fighter says in one of the videos, according to a translation by the i24 news site.
“A victory is coming to the mujahedin of the Al-Aqsa [Mosque] from above, you are the ones who start but we will continue it,” another Islamic State member says as he holds an automatic rifle.
In another one of the videos, a fighter criticizes Hamas and Fatah for not taking enough action against the Jews in Israel. “Both [Palestinian groups] only care about their own interests and some are even agents of the crusaders and the Jews,” the man says.
“Hurry up and save your brothers, don’t wait for the Arab leaders to help you.”
The videos also seemed to highlight the rift between the Islamic State and Gaza-based terrorist group Hamas. “We will uproot Hamas and the secular factions,” another fighter can be heard saying in a different video. “We take you to task. Hamas and all secular factions will surrender to our will and Sharia law will be the rule in Gaza.”
Earlier this month, Israeli security forces arrested three people in northern Israel accused of plotting attacks for the Islamic State terror group in August, according to the Shin Bet security service. A fourth, who is currently serve a life sentence in prison, was also charged with joining the organization, Israeli officials said, while three others were charged with aiding the terror cell.
Though Israeli security forces have claimed more than 40 Israeli citizens have traveled to Syria and Iraq to join the Islamic State, that terror cell was the first IS affiliate discovered within Israel.