First Sergeant Rubin (L) and Corporal Amichai (R); Photo credit: Free use
Thursday, February 5, 2026, 19:31 The Military Court in Yehuda handed down two life sentences to Ali Dandis, the terrorist who murdered two IDF soldiers, David Rubin and Ahikam Amichai, Hy”d, at Nahal Telem, a wadi north-west of Kiryat Arba-Hevron, 19 years ago. The court also awarded NIS 5.2 million in compensation to the victims’ families. Dandis was sentenced to an additional life sentence for a shooting attack while he was under “protective custody” in a Palestinian Authority Prison. The court convicted Dandis in March 2025. Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher is representing the soldiers’ families.
The indictment filed against Dandis cites that he carried out the attack with two other terrorists who are members of the Palestinian Authority security apparatus. One of the terrorists was later killed by Israeli security forces. Dandis and the other terrorist turned themselves in to the Palestinian Authority, and were placed in “protective custody” in a Palestinian Authority Prison. Even though they were in Palestinian Authority custody, they oversaw terrorist gangs and coordinated equipment and weapons supplies for them. Dandis was apprehended in a joint GSS, National Counter-Terrorism Unit, and IDF operation a year ago, after he left the custody of the Palestinian Authority. The other terrorist is still in Palestinian Authority custody.
Attorney Bleicher issued a statement: “Despite this sentencing, closure has not been reached. Another terrorist is still in the ‘protective custody’ of the Palestinian Authority, and he has not been sentenced. Penalizing terrorists is necessary, but insufficient to eradicate terror. The State of Israel must dry up the breeding ground of terrorism, the Palestinian Authority, that even at this very moment is inciting to terror. The PA pays salaries to terrorists and educates youth to commit acts of terror. We are looking forward to the day that the State of Israel will put an end to terrorists and their handlers.”