Prosecutors say Israeli, Palestinian minors swore fealty to ISIS, plotted synagogue attack

Prosecutors in the State Attorney’s Office filed an indictment today against two minors, an Israeli and a Palestinian, who are said to have sworn allegiance to ISIS and planned an elaborate terror attack on a Lod synagogue.

The Arab Israeli minor is accused of making contact with members and supporters of ISIS on social media since around August 2024 and swearing allegiance to the terror group soon after.

According to prosecutors, the minor’s contact in ISIS suggested he carry out an attack in Israel, to which he agreed, and settled on a synagogue in Lod as his target for a shooting attack. After the two defendants met in Hebron, the Israeli minor convinced his Palestinian accomplice to swear allegiance to ISIS as well and enlisted him in his plot.

Prosecutors say the pair sought to carry out their attack during Shabbat morning prayers, when the synagogue would be full of worshipers. One of them was to distract the security guard at the entrance while the other would attack him with a poisoned knife, steal his gun and open fire on the congregation.

After the minors’ main contact in ISIS was arrested in Jordan, their plan was abandoned.

The State Attorney’s Office nevertheless notes that “even after that, the Israeli minor maintained his contact with ISIS-supporting actors… and expressed a desire to carry out terrorist acts.”

It is unclear whether the Palestinian minor remained active in ISIS circles.