The Beersheba Magistrate’s Court on Monday sentenced Dr. Muhammad Azzam, a physician who worked at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, to 27 months in prison following his conviction at the conclusion of a full trial for membership in the ISIS terrorist organization. According to the verdict and sentencing ruling delivered by Judge Shosh Shitrit, Azzam underwent a prolonged ideological radicalization process spanning a decade. From 2014 until his arrest in July 2024, he systematically consumed Islamic State terror propaganda, deepening his alignment with the global jihadist movement. Following the October 7 massacre, Azzam decided to join the terror group formally and swore an oath of allegiance to its supreme leader.
The court established that following his formal pledge of allegiance, Azzam escalated his illicit activities. The judge ruled that his conduct extended well beyond theoretical interest, demonstrating a deep, persistent radicalization process aimed at developing operational capability. Searches of his personal digital devices revealed that he had downloaded technical instruction manuals detailing the preparation of explosive materials and lethal poisons, which the court determined created a severe potential hazard to national security and public safety.
In her sentencing remarks, Judge Shitrit emphasized the extraordinary gravity of the case, pointing to the decade-long timeframe of his radicalization, the immense volume of jihadist combat and execution material he amassed, and his formal accession to ISIS in the midst of an existential national war. The court noted the distinct, alarming risk created by his daily presence as a practicing medical doctor within a major public medical center where wounded Israeli soldiers and civilians were receiving care.
The State Attorney’s Office sought a substantial prison term to ensure deterrence against citizens joining jihadist factions. The court ultimately sentenced Azzam to 27 months of active imprisonment, less time served in detention, alongside 12 months of probation and a NIS 15,000 fine.
Advocate Hofit Kantorovich of the Southern District Attorney’s Office, who prosecuted the case alongside Advocate Tehila Nidam, stated following the hearing: “This is a severe case in which an Israeli citizen chose to join the ISIS terrorist organization, pledged allegiance to it after October 7, systematically consumed terrorist content over years—including graphic combat footage and executions—and downloaded instructional manuals for manufacturing explosives and poisons.”
In light of the conviction, prosecutors formally forwarded Azzam’s file to the Ministry of Health to initiate proceedings to permanently revoke his license to practice medicine.