The Shin Bet, in cooperation with the Israel Police, May 7 arrested Ranwa Rasmi Muhammad Shanawi, 22, a resident of Makr, near Acre, on suspicion of having left Israel for Syria illegally, and joining the Islamic terrorist group Jabat al-Nusra.
Shanawi was detained for investigation upon her return to Israel after having spent approximately one year with Jabat al-Nusra in Syria.
During her investigation it was learned that Shanawi had made contact with a Syrian national who suggested that she go to Syria and join Jabat al-Nusra. She agreed out of her desire to become a “martyr.”
It was also learned that Shanawi stole money from her family to use in traveling to Syria. Using the stolen money, she bought a plane ticket to Turkey, arriving there in March 2018. She then crossed the border into Syria with forged documents.
Shanawi joined the ranks of Jabat al-Nusra. She was arrested by the organization and held in Idlib. After her release, Shanawi sought to remain active in the organization but left Syria for Turkey and subsequently returned to Israel.
Shanawi subscribed to an extremist ideology including support for Islamic State and an abiding hatred of Jews. The State Attorney’s Office (Northern District) filed a severe indictment against Shanawi on May 31.