Seven members of Hariri organization indicted for extortion, threats, planting of explosive devices

Seven members of the Hariri crime organization were indicted for extortion, threats, and the planting of explosive devices after a series of arrests stemming from a long-term investigation into the group’s activities, Israel Police announced on Thursday.

Those indicted include senior members of the group.

The filing of indictments and prosecutors’ statements followed a series of raids conducted in Arab villages and the West Bank on April 12, during which 11 suspects were arrested. Multiple vehicles and a large amount of cash were also seized during the raids.

Those arrested were then interrogated and detained.

The investigation and raids were the product of collaboration between multiple bodies, including the Israel Police, Border Police, dog squad units, and the IDF.

The months-long investigation into the Hariri crime organizations was led by the Chief of Staff of the Criminal Investigation Division after members of the group attempted to extort money through threats in two separate cases, planting explosives at the homes of their victims in addition to threats of harm.

In January 2026, the suspects extorted and threatened a Nablus resident over land the victim owned. They demanded millions of shekels, and when the victim did not pay, they planted explosives outside of his home.

An investigation into that incident led law enforcement to a separate incident that occurred in Nazareth in February 2026. After a dispute over land ownership, one suspect threatened to harm a victim if the victim did not comply with his requests. The suspect carried out the threat and planted another explosive device at the victim’s home.

West Bank District Commander, Chief Superintendent Moshe Pinchi, stated that the Israel Police will not compromise in its “struggle against criminal organizations and any attempt to extort money, act violently, and inflict terror.”

“We will not allow the West Bank to become cities of refuge for perpetrators of crime or a place to implement and establish criminal terrorism,” Pinchi asserted.