Court ruling9/24/2026

Court Increases Sentence of Man Who Stole Vehicles from Be’eri After October 7

The Beersheba District Court increased the sentence of Guy Hadad, a 44-year-old towing company owner, from five and a half years in prison to seven and a half years in prison. The court viewed with particular severity the fact that he exploited the chaos following the October 7 attack and the volunteer center to steal vehicles belonging to residents of the border area.

Key facts

•Convicted person: Guy Hadad, 44
•Court: Beersheba District Court
•Final sentence: 7 years and 6 months
•Original sentence: 5 years and 6 months
•Conviction: conspiracy and five vehicle thefts
•The case number and date of the decision are not specified in the source

How the Scheme Operated

After the residents of the border areas were evacuated, a volunteer center was established to provide logistical assistance to soldiers and civilians. Hadad, who owned a towing company based in Rishon LeZion, arrived there together with tow truck driver Israel Amram. According to the source, Hadad instructed him to locate vehicles in Be’eri, transfer them to the company’s lot, and subsequently sell them in the Palestinian Authority territories.

Whose Vehicles Were Stolen

The stolen vehicles included cars belonging to survivors of the October 7 attack, as well as to released hostage Eli Sharabi. Sharabi discovered that his car had been stolen only after he returned from captivity. In total, Hadad was convicted of conspiracy to commit a felony and five counts of jointly stealing a vehicle.

Why the Sentence Was Increased

The Magistrate’s Court initially sentenced Hadad to five and a half years in prison. The Southern District Attorney’s Office appealed the sentence, arguing that it was excessively lenient, and requested that he be sentenced to up to 12 years in prison. The District Court panel, headed by Judge Gilat Shalev and including Judges Itay Bresler-Gonen and Fanny Gilat Cohen, added two years to the prison term.

The Courts’ Position

The courts found that Hadad turned the aid center for soldiers and survivors into a base for a series of planned thefts. In assessing the severity of the acts, they took into account the exploitation of the nationwide chaos, the helplessness of the evacuated residents, and the harm to public solidarity during the state of emergency. The District Court emphasized that the offenses were committed for profit at the expense of residents of the border area, who had no way to protect the property they had left behind.

What this means for you

The decision shows that exploiting a state of emergency and the trust placed in volunteers may significantly affect the severity of punishment for property offenses. For the victims, it also means that the circumstances of the theft—particularly evacuation, captivity, or the inability to safeguard property—are taken into account by the court when assessing the severity of the acts.

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Case analysis based on court rulings