Three Men Charged with Possession of Stolen IDF MATADOR Missile in Northern Israel

Three individuals have been charged with involvement in the theft of an IDF MATADOR shoulder-fired missile, which was seized by Israeli security forces during a raid in the West Bank on September 5, 2026. The Haifa District State Attorney’s Office filed an indictment against the three men, who were filmed holding the stolen weapon. Two of the suspects, residents of Shfaram, were arrested during a joint operation by the Northern District police, an IDF counterterrorism unit, and officers from the military’s Northern Command.

The third suspect, a 22-year-old West Bank Palestinian who had entered sovereign Israel illegally, was identified and arrested following the investigation. The Israel Police and Border Police have confiscated over 700 deadly weapons this year in efforts to combat arms smuggling and violent crime. However, the theft of the MATADOR missile from the IDF was described as a highly unusual case.

In a similar targeted raid on Thursday, police and Border Police arrested four Palestinian residents of the West Bank on suspicion of owning illegal weapons. Three suspects, including two men in their 20s and a woman in her 50s, were arrested in the village of Jaba, near Nablus. A fourth suspect, a Nablus resident in his 40s, was arrested in a different village.

In Jaba, Israeli forces discovered 10 M16 ammunition magazines and hundreds of rounds of various types of ammunition inside the suspects’ home. The investigation is ongoing. In the case of the fourth suspect, Israeli forces observed a bag being thrown from a window as they arrived to search the home. The bag contained a pistol, magazines, ammunition, a face mask, and other combat equipment.

Authorities took the suspect to Ariel for questioning, and following a court hearing, his detention was extended until October 26. The cases highlight the ongoing efforts of Israeli security forces to address the smuggling of weapons and the possession of illegal arms in the region. The pursuit of justice and accountability remains a priority, reflecting the call to seek peace and uphold the law, as seen in Micah 6:8, which urges us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

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