The three terrorists
Photo: Motti Kimchi
3 terrorists convicted of the murder of 4 Israelis in Sarona attack
Cousins Mohammad Mahmara and Khaled Mahmara, who opened fire at Max Brenner cafe in the Sarona Market, and their accomplice Ayash Musa Zayn, were found guilty of the murder of three Israelis they shot as well as a fourth who fell while escaping and succumbed to her injuries later.
The two terrorists who carried out a shooting at the Sarona complex in Tel Aviv
and an accomplice were convicted of the murder of four Israelis on Monday.
The shooters, cousins Mohammad Mahmara and Khaled Mahmara, opened fire at a restaurant at the Sarona Market complex using makeshift Carl Gustav rifles.
"The terrorists rose from their seats at the Max Brenner cafe, drew weapons and started indiscriminately shooting civilians," Judge Sara Dotan said in her ruling.
The terrorists, l-r: Mohammad Mahmara, Ayash Musa Zayn and Khaled Mahmara (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
Three Israelis were killed in the shooting itself: Ido Ben-Ari, 42, from Ramat Gan; Dr. Michael Feige, 58 from Midreshet Ben-Gurion; and Mila Mishayev, 32, from Rishon LeZion.
Ilana Nave, 39, from Tel Aviv, fled the scene of the attack when the shooting began, fell and lost consciousness. She was later declared dead at a Tel Aviv hospital. The Tel Aviv District Court determined the defendants were responsible for Nave's death as well.
The four victims, l-r: Ilana Nave, Dr. Michael Feige, Mila Mishayev and Ido Ben-Ari (Photos: Ben-Gurion University, Danny Machlis)
Ayash Musa Zayn, a friend of the 21-year-old cousins from Yatta, was supposed to join them, but the two eventually stopped him from carrying out the attack because he had financial debts, which according to Muslim faith prevents one from becoming a martyr.
"They need to be sentenced to death," said Ilana's husband Alon after the verdict. "I was worried they would not be convicted of her murder, and this is why I came here today. I'm glad they were convicted. The fitting punishment is the death sentence and the expulsion of their families."
The shooting at the Sarona Market complex
According to the indictment, the two cousins and Zayn initially planned to carry out the attack on the train, and the three gathered information to that end.
As part of the preparations for the attack, the cousins bought 30cm knives and rat poison to dip the knives in, and in that manner further increase the harm caused to their victims.
In order to blend in with the crowds, the two decided to dress as "businessmen" or "lawyers." To that end, they bought suits, watches, leather briefcases, shoes and sunglasses, spending NIS 2,600.
The terrorists later purchased two makeshift Carl Gustav rifles in Yatta and conducted target practice, asking Zayn to hide the weapons.
A local smuggler transporting illegal Palestinian workers into Israel helped them bring the weapons across the Green Line.
On the day of the attack, the two took bus 53 to Be'er Sheva. They intended to take the train but changed their plans at the last minute when noticing the strict security at the train station.
The scene of the attack
They instead took a taxi from Be'er Sheva to Tel Aviv, seeking a crowded place to carry out their attack. They got off by the HaShalom Train Station in central Tel Aviv and, after asking passersby where they could find restaurants and cafes, walked to the nearby Sarona complex.
The two shooters have pled guilty to most of the charges against them—the murder of three people and causing the injury of 41 others—but refused to admit to the murder of Ilana Nave.
Zayn, meanwhile, claimed he should only be charged with aiding and abetting, as he did not take part in the actual attack.
The three terrorists' attorney said Zayn plans to appeal the conviction. "We stand firm in our claim that he had no part in the attack. He didn't pick the location and wasn't part of the planning. The minority opinion determined he cannot be convicted of four counts of murder, but only of aiding and abetting," the lawyer said.
