Fatma al-Zaq found guilty of attempted murder, affiliation with Islamic Jihad, illegal paramilitary training after state proves she planned to carry out suicide bombings along with her niece
Ilana Curiel

The Beersheba District Court convicted Fatma al-Zaq, a resident of the Gaza Strip, of attempted murder after she was found guilty of helping her niece plot a suicide attack in Israel, and agreeing to carry one out herself.

According to court documents, al-Zaq was recruited by the Islamic Jihad four years ago. Two years ago, she was approached by her niece, who was planning to carry out a bombing in Israel. The two met with a third party, procured a fictitious medical file saying the girl needed medical treatment in Ramallah and planned to have her smuggled into Israel from the West Bank.

The women's handler convinced al-Zaq to carry out a second suicide attack at the same time. They also made a video tape, which showed them holding a rifle and a grenade, and reading a passage from the Koran. They also read out their wills.

Both, argued the state, were trained to operate an explosive belt, and were supposed to meet a co-
conspirator in either Ramallah or Beersheba in order to procure the explosives.

Al-Zaq and her niece were each supposed to arrive at a crowded location in Israel and blow themselves up "with the intention of hurting as many Israelis as possible." They were arrested as they entered Israel through the Erez border crossing.

The defense told the court that the prosecution failed to prove that al-Zaq did, in fact, plan to see the attack though; but the court found her guilty of attempted murder, membership in a terror organization, illegal military training and various gun charges.