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Former Soroka Hospital Doctor Sentenced for ISIS Membership
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Sentencing of Former Soroka Doctor for ISIS Membership
The Beersheba Magistrate’s Court sentenced Dr. Muhammad Azzam, a former physician at Soroka Medical Center, to 27 months in prison on Sunday. The judgment, issued after his conviction on April 27, also imposed a NIS 15,000 fine and a 12-month suspended sentence. Judge Shoshana Shitrit ordered that time already spent in custody be deducted, and the doctor must report to Dekel Prison on November 8.
Legal Findings and Sentencing Details
Prosecutors presented evidence that Azzam pledged allegiance to ISIS after the October 7 Hamas-led massacre and, from 2014 until his arrest on July 16, 2024, regularly consumed propaganda, downloaded manuals on explosives and poisons, and organized the material in password-protected folders on his devices. The judge concluded that this systematic collection reflected practical capability, an aggravating factor given his role as a doctor with access to vulnerable patients and wounded soldiers.
The defense argued that Azzam’s affiliation was entirely passive, noting that he never purchased materials, planned travel abroad, or intended to carry out an attack. Lawyers also highlighted his lack of prior convictions, the impact of detention on his wife and two young daughters, and his expressed desire to rebuild his family life. While the defense shifted focus to the legal definition of membership, the court upheld the conviction, citing the oath, sustained identification with ISIS, and the digital evidence as sufficient to establish membership.
Background of Radicalization
Azzam’s radicalization intensified after the October 7 attacks, during which he expressed delight at the atrocities and shared related footage. While employed at Soroka in 2024, investigators discovered that he had downloaded operational guides on explosives and poisons, arranging them methodically on his electronic devices. The court emphasized that his medical position amplified the potential danger, though it did not find that he used his role to harm patients.
Official Judicial and Prosecutorial Remarks
Judge Shitrit described the organized collection of ISIS manuals as “deliberate learning” and treated Azzam’s medical profession as an aggravating circumstance. Prosecutors sought a deterrent sentence, stressing the length of his radicalization, the timing of his oath during wartime, and his failure to accept responsibility. In mitigation, the judge considered the defendant’s family circumstances and detention conditions, resulting in a sentence toward the lower end of the range she deemed appropriate.
Future Reporting Requirement
Having spent more than 17 months in detention before being placed under electronic monitoring, Azzam is required to report to Dekel Prison on November 8 to begin serving the remainder of his sentence.