Maad Atoun, a 34-year-old resident of Sur Baher in East Jerusalem, was sentenced today by the Jerusalem District Court to eight years and ten months in prison, along with a fine of 10,000 shekels. Atoun was convicted of a series of serious terrorism offenses, including plotting to harm a senior Israeli official – specifically targeting Itamar Ben Gvir back when he was still only a Knesset member
A multi-charge indictment reveals ties to Hamas
The indictment, filed in March 2023 by the Jerusalem District Prosecutor's Office, accused Atoun of extensive terrorist activities on behalf of Hamas in the two years leading up to his arrest. The main charges included
Terror financing: Atoun allegedly transferred funds from Hamas to active militants and the families of terrorists
Conspiracy to commit murder: He participated in discussions regarding the assassination of a senior Israeli figure
He was also accused of planning the kidnapping of an IDF soldier, membership and activity in a terrorist organization, unlawful use of property for terror purposes, conspiracy, rioting, attempted assault of a police officer under aggravated circumstances, and issuing threats
A family connection to a notorious terrorist
According to the indictment, filed by prosecutor Yishai Zigman, Maad Atoun is the nephew of Mahmoud Atoun, one of the terrorists responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Israeli soldier Nissim Toledano. Mahmoud was released in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal in 2011 and exiled to Turkey. While Mahmoud lived in Turkey, he remained in close contact with Maad via phone calls and direct meetings on Turkish soil
At some point, Mahmoud offered Maad a role within Hamas, to which he agreed. Maad received money from Mahmoud and others, and distributed tens of thousands of shekels and dollars to families of Hamas prisoners, martyrs, and former inmates – all in accordance with Hamas’s policy of rewarding loyal operatives and their relatives
Planning an attack on Ben Gvir and a soldier abduction
In one of their meetings, Mahmoud Atoun told Maad that Hamas sought to carry out a major attack in Jerusalem. He reportedly mentioned that a key target could be Itamar Ben Gvir or a senior Shin Bet official while they were present on the Temple Mount. Mahmoud suggested that Maad plan and execute the kidnapping and murder of a Jewish civilian or soldier, whose body would then be used as a bargaining chip in future prisoner swap negotiations
Upon returning to Israel, Maad began developing a detailed plan to carry out the kidnapping, but was arrested before it could be executed. The indictment also stated that Atoun participated in riots in Sur Baher following the deadly terrorist attack that killed soldier Noa Lazar
Now, after being convicted and sentenced, Maad Atoun will have many years to reflect on his actions – all while serving his sentence under the authority of Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir
