2 Israelis charged for terror arson, shooting attacks in Ramle in bid to intimidate police

An indictment is filed in the Lod District Court against two Israelis accused of carrying out a series of terror-related attacks in the central city of Ramle, including terrorist acts of arson and shooting in a residential area and attempting to use explosive devices.

The defendants, Modi Ghanim, 20, and Halaf Abu Janam, 21, both residents of Ramle, were arrested in recent weeks in a joint operation by the Shin Bet security agency and the Israel Police’s Central District.

Prosecutors say the two targeted Jewish residents and security forces in a bid to intimidate police.

According to the indictment, the suspects decided to carry out attacks after clashes with police involving members of Ghanim’s family.

In December, prosecutors say, Ghanim set fire to three vehicles on a street where Jewish families live. The blaze spread to a fourth vehicle.

During the same incident, Ghanim allegedly fired a gun repeatedly at a residential building until the magazine was empty. One bullet entered the kitchen of an apartment, the indictment says.

The indictment also alleges the pair planned attacks on police, including attempting to use pipe bombs after learning how to make them from TikTok videos. In a separate incident, Ghanim allegedly threw a grenade at a vehicle in a Jewish neighborhood, but it failed to explode.