Israeli military charges soldier with stealing and selling weapons

According to Arab media reports, the military prosecution of the Israeli army has filed an indictment against Raphael Shimsh, a soldier responsible for guarding the base of the Shayetet 13 naval unit in the Atlit area, on charges of stealing weapons and selling them, as well as using drugs.

According to the report, the military prosecution has asked the court to keep the soldier in custody until the judicial proceedings are concluded. A military court has also extended his detention until Oct. 21, 2026.

Sources said that in September 2026, after entering the base in question, Shimsh took three M4 rifles — an advanced model of the M16 — along with the relevant magazines and ammunition from the base.

The report adds that similar cases of weapons and ammunition theft from Israeli military bases and their sale have been raised in the past, and news reports on the subject have been published repeatedly.

The Atlit base is located south of the city of Haifa and along the Mediterranean coast, and Shayetet 13 is one of the Israeli army’s naval units.