The following is a transcript of the interview held over Facebook Messenger.
Hassan Shaalan: Hello
Rabia Shahaha: Hello and blessings be upon you
Shaalan: I wanted to ask about the questions I sent you. You told me a while ago that you want to answer them and send them to me.
Shahada: My dear friend I haven't had time. And they (ISIS leadership –ed) haven't permitted me, especially in light of the uptickin fighting on the borders of Fallujah.
Shaalan: Ok, however you wish. Is there a chance that you can send me the answers in the next few days?
Shahada: It's really crazy here. We're going to continue until we die. If god wants me to stay alive, you'll know. I ask for your prayers.
Shaalan: What do you mean you're going to continue until you die?
Shahada: It means either god will help us, or we will die.
Shaalan: Are you guys under threat?
Shahada: There's no threat god willing. This is Jihad – it's a pleasure you can't even find in a hotel in Tel Aviv. And this is despite the 66 country coalition – including Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The brothers – may god bless them – are holding steady despite their small numbers. The war is still going on. We have left Fallujah for the outskirts of the city. God willing we'll be in touch.
At least 40 Israeli-Arabs have joined the ranks of ISIS since the beginning of the Syrian Civil War. There have been five killed so far in the fighting, including one killed a month ago.
"I'm sorry to say, but there are a lot of young religious people who are influenced by ISIS," said an Israeli-Arab who requested that his name be withheld.
"They act in the most extreme manner and may go crazy because of these awful ideas which have no place in our society. There are people here who are brainwashing the youth into believing that ISIS is right. If this continues, it will hurt our community."