The following report is now a complimentary offering from MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here.
On May 7, 2022, a Telegram channel which supports Iran-backed militias published a statement promising free weapons to residents of the West Bank who need them to perpetrate terrorist attacks against Israel. The statement reads, "Do you live in the West Bank and want a rifle or a pistol? Please note, the weapons [are provided] free of charge. Contact us via the bot. We speak Arabic and English."[1]
It should be noted that the statement does not include the address of the bot and there are several known bots associated with the channel.
This statement was published two days after the terrorist attack which was perpetrated with axes by two Palestinians from the area near Jenin, against civilian passersby in the Israeli city of Elad, in which three people were killed and four wounded. This attack is the most recent in a wave of terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens which began in March 2022.[2]
During the period since the attacks began, Iran-backed Iraqi militias have vowed that they are prepared to assist the Palestinian people and to provide them "with everything that is necessary" until Israel is totally ousted from the region.[3]
The current wave of terrorist attacks has been accompanied by incitement from the leaders of the Hamas organization who encourage lone-wolf attacks. For example, on April 30, Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar urged Arab residents of Israel to perpetrate lone-wolf terrorist attacks. He said, "Whoever has a gun should prepare it, and whoever does not have a gun should prepare his cleaver, axe, or knife."[4]
[1] Telegram, May 7, 2022.
[2] For more information about the wave of terrorist attacks, see MEMRI and MEMRI JTTM Reports: Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades Claims Responsibility For April 7, 2022 Shooting Attack In Tel Aviv, Promises Further Escalation Against Israeli Targets, April 8, 2022; ISIS Official Media Claims Responsibility For Terrorist Attack In Hadera, Israel, March 27, 2022.
[3] See MEMRI JTTM report: Iran-Backed Militias In Iraq: We're Prepared To Assist The Palestinian People; Hizbullah Brigades: We Embrace As Our Own The Perpetrators Of The Recent Attacks In Israel, April 17, 2022.
[4] See MEMRITV clip Hamas Gaza Leader Yahya Sinwar: We Will Desecrate Synagogues Throughout The World If Al-Aqsa Is Desecrated; Israel Wants A Religious War – We Accept The Challenge; This Will Scorch The Earth, Change The Planet; Palestinians Should Carry Out Lone Wolf Attacks; Israeli-Arabs Should Prepare Their Guns, Cleavers, Axes, Knives, April 30, 2022.
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