Man who impersonated security personnel to enter Gaza freed after 11 months in jail

A man who impersonated a soldier, a policeman and a Shin Bet operative to enter the Gaza Strip last December and had his photo taken with the prime minister has been released from prison after 11 months.

Roi Yifrach, 35, was accused of taking advantage of the chaos after Hamas’s deadly October 7 attack to steal weapons with the intent to sell them on the black market. However, under an eventual plea deal he was convicted only of illegal possession of a weapon. He was sentenced to 15 months and freed early on good behavior.

In his sentencing, the judge noted testimony in the trial that pointed to heroic actions he took during the October 7 attacks, when he threw himself into the fight in southern Israel and endangered himself to assist civilians and security personnel.

בלעדי: רועי יפרח הנאשם בהתחזות ללוחם וגנבת נשק – תועד חמוש לצד רה"מ נתניהוhttps://t.co/n6oy02pVn9 | @guypch2news pic.twitter.com/0xnPB6tvcQ

— החדשות – N12 (@N12News) December 31, 2023