Israel’s Beer Sheva District Court on Monday handed Palestinian citizen a 7.5-year prison sentence for planning to carry out an attack against Israeli occupation forces.
Israeli news outlets claimed that Mohammed Masri who lives in the central Palestinian city of Tira is part of an anti-occupation cell which planned to kidnap Israeli soldiers in Beer Sheva and harm them.
Masri and two of the other suspects – Firas al-Omari and Mahmoud Lawisi – are affiliated with the Islamic Movement. A fourth suspect Abdullah Abu Ayash worked with the others but is not affiliated with the group.
According to the indictments Masri Lawisi and Ayash were employed at Almshdaoi King Store where they met and became acquainted.
After the Israeli government banned the Islamic Movement the three suspects decided to carry out an anti-occupation attack against Israeli soldiers. Masri allegedly told Ayash of his intention to carry out an attack but Ayash took no further action.
The planned attack would have included an attack on a bus stop or military base by means of shooting at Israeli occupation soldiers ramming them or stabbing them.
The same court sentenced Firas al-Omari aged 46 to eight years in prison and a fine of 10000 shekels and another suspended prison-term. Abu Ayash received a 30-month sentence.
Masri had spent 12 years in Israeli lock-ups before he got released in May 2013. He is now facing a new sentence of seven years and a half.
