Head of Terror Cell in Israeli Soldier’s Killing Gets Life Sentence

An Israeli military court sentenced to life in prison plus 25 years the head of a Palestinian terror cell that murdered an Israeli soldier and yeshiva student in the West Bank in 2019.

Ahmad Asafra was convicted in December of deliberately causing the death of Dvir Sorek, an offense corresponding to murder under Israeli law. In addition to his prison sentence, Asafra was ordered to pay Sorek’s family 1.5 million shekels ($450,000) in compensation.

Asafra was convicted even though he was not present at the killing, which was carried out by two members of the cell.

The assailants approached Sorek on August 7, 2019 at the entrance to the Migdal Oz settlement. One used an electroshock weapon on Sorek, stabbed him several times in the torso and fled with his partner. According to the verdict, Asafra formed the cell in 2017 and in 2019 told members to carry out attacks on Israelis.

In December, the Ofra military court sentenced Kassem Asafra to life in prison plus 40 years and Nseir Asafra to life plus 20 years. Each was also ordered to pay Sorek’s family 1.5 million shekels ($450,000).

The court said Kassem recruited his cousin Nseir to the cell and that they planned the murder together. They were also convicted of planning a second stabbing in June 2019. They were apprehended by security forces before they could carry it out.