Israel disrupted 46 Islamic State plots since 2023, researcher says
A new analysis reveals that Israeli security forces have thwarted more ISIS-linked operations in the last three years than in the previous nine and a half years combined.
By Amelia Gupta ·
Israeli security agencies have disrupted 46 Islamic State attack plots since October 2023, according to a new analysis. Aaron Zelin, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, released the findings on Thursday. The data shows this count exceeds the 50 IS-related arrest operations carried out by Israeli forces over the preceding nine and a half years.
Zelin compiled a database of publicly reported arrests linked to the Islamic State dating back to 2014. He noted that the Israel Defense Forces, Shin Bet, and other agencies have handled a higher volume of cases in the recent period. The shift marks a departure from the earlier timeline where foreign fighters primarily operated in Syria or spread propaganda online.
The nature of the threats has changed. Since the war began, the group has attempted 28 attacks, compared to 18 actual or attempted attacks on foreign soil before October 7. While almost none of the recent plots succeeded, investigators found that suspects increasingly maintained direct links to Islamic State operatives abroad rather than acting as lone wolves.
One plot involved two suspects arrested in east Jerusalem’s Ras al-Amud neighborhood in late December 2023. The 19-year-old and 20-year-old men allegedly planned to load a truck with gas canisters and detonate it near the Knesset. Investigators found chemicals for making explosives, a bomb-making notebook, and an Islamic State flag in their possession.
Another cell near Hebron manufactured approximately 100 explosive devices intended for Israeli soldiers. The group's leader was in contact with Islamic State operatives abroad. In the Arab Israeli town of Tayibe, five men calculated the explosive material needed to bring down the Azrieli Towers in Tel Aviv. They also planned a car bombing at the mall beneath the towers.
Zelin described the trend as part of an effort to encourage Palestinians to abandon Hamas in favor of the jihadist group. In January 2024, IS spokesman Abu Hudhayfa al-Ansari urged Palestinians to fight the Jews because they are Jews. He called on supporters to kill Jews and Christians in the streets and alleyways of the West.
The group aims to target regional states that host US bases, as well as Jewish communities abroad. A September 2025 article in the group’s weekly newsletter claimed crossing into Israel was difficult because Arab states protected its borders. In response, Israel has expanded efforts to pursue Islamic State networks beyond its territory through nighttime raids and strikes in Syria.
