Israel deports ‘Samaritan arch-terrorist’ after release from 22-year prison sentence under ceasefire deal

As part of the ceasefire deal that freed 20 Israeli hostages in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, Israel released a hardened terrorist with one of the most unusual life stories among its prison population – the man known as “Nader the Samaritan.”

Known under this biblical-flavored appellation is Nader Sadaqa, who found himself deported to Egypt after serving 22 years in an Israeli prison, where he was sentenced to six life terms for his role in multiple deadly terror attacks.

Sadaqa hails from Nablus, or more specifically, from the tiny Samaritan community on Mount Gerizim, overlooking the majority-Arab town in central Samaria. The community numbers around 900 members who, like their biblical ancestors, identify as the true descendants of the Israelites and use ancient Hebrew in their religious rituals.

This is why pro-Palestinian activists have called Sadaqa a “Palestinian Jewish Prisoner.”

Half of the Samaritans live in the Israeli town of Holon, just south of Tel Aviv, while the other half has remained in its ancestral homeland above Nablus, which is the biblical Shechem. The residents believe that this mountain, rather than Mount Zion, was the site of the Holy Temple.

Nablus Samaritans speak Arabic and have good relations with their Palestinian neighbors, as well as with Israel. Many of them even hold Israeli citizenship. One of the most famous Samaritans is Sofi Tsedaka – a singer and actress who converted to Judaism.

However, Nader Sadaqa, a childhood friend of Tsedaka, chose a path of violence and terrorism against Israel, joining the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) – a Communist terror organization that has historically drawn members from Arabic-speaking minorities, including Samaritans and various Christian communities.

Tsedaka said in an interview at the time: “We all know each other in the Samaritan community. It’s hard to believe that Nader, the boy who played with us during the holidays on Mount Gerizim, became a terrorist. Samaritans are usually neutral; they try to maintain good relations with everyone. It’s sad and shameful to hear.”

In the early 2000s, Sadaqa became one of the commanders of PFLP’s military wing. Following his arrest in 2004, Israeli security officials described him as “the Samaritan terrorist mastermind,” according to Ynet News.

He was known to direct suicide squads and supplied explosives for several bloody attacks and had planned several others that were thwarted.

According to the indictment filed against him at the time, Sadaqa was directly involved in the December 2003 Geha Junction bombing, which killed four Israeli civilians and wounded 26 others; the attack on Mount Gerizim that left two soldiers dead in February 2003; and an attack on the IDF’s Beqaot base in April 2003, where two soldiers were killed and eight wounded.

Following guidelines set by Israel for the release of those prisoners with blood on their hands, Sadaqa was not sent back to Samaria but deported to Egypt.

Once he arrived there, he vowed to continue his violent fight against Israel.

“I have been in prison for 22 years, sentenced to six life terms. The resistance speaks, prays, creates and brings benefit. There is no voice above or beyond its voice, no word besides its word, no shadow but its shadow. We are the freest people in the world,” he stated.

Two years ago, Palestinian Media Watch released footage from a program aired on the official Palestinian Authority television channel, in which the host and Sadaqa’s mother both praised him for his actions.

“I’m very proud of what he did,” she said. “Yes, I lost him, but Allah be praised.”