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Morocco's BCIJ Dismantles ISIS-Linked Cell

Members of the Moroccan Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ) show their skills during an event, open to the public, on September 28, 2018, in Marrakesh. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)
Members of the Moroccan Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ) show their skills during an event, open to the public, on September 28, 2018, in Marrakesh. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)
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Morocco's BCIJ Dismantles ISIS-Linked Cell

Members of the Moroccan Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ) show their skills during an event, open to the public, on September 28, 2018, in Marrakesh. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)
Members of the Moroccan Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ) show their skills during an event, open to the public, on September 28, 2018, in Marrakesh. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)

Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ) busted on Friday a five-member terrorist cell in Safi, a city located in Western Morocco. The cell included a former detainee jailed for his involvement in terror-related charges with ISIS.

The suspects are aged between 21-36 Morocco’s Ministry of Interior said in a statement.

Investigations by the Security services found that the suspects had pledged allegiance to ISIS and were planning to join fighters in Syrian and Iraqi combat zones in coordination with members on the ground.

The suspects were also planning terror plots to undermine the security and stability of Morocco.

The BCIJ seized several electronic devices and knives, in addition to radicalized scripts, added the statement.

According to the ministry, one of the suspects “attempted to exploit his presence in a sub-Saharan country to obtain sponsors to join a group affiliated to ISIS, which is active in the Sahel region.

Police have put the suspects in custody for further investigations.

Since December 2018, BCIJ has arrested 918 people for terror-related crimes, including 14 women and 29 minors.

The number of terror cells and suspects for terror-related crimes has increased in Morocco. BCIJ has been especially active in the first two months of 2019, arresting a number of Isis-linked terrorism suspects between January and February.

In January, the bureau dismantled a 13-member terror cell for their alleged ISIS ties.

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Netanyahu and Trump Prioritize Gaza Hostages

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to the press, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. US July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to the press, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. US July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
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Netanyahu and Trump Prioritize Gaza Hostages

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to the press, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. US July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to the press, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. US July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that his meeting with US President Donald Trump focused on freeing hostages held in Gaza, and stressed his determination to "eliminate" the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas.

Netanyahu said on X that the leaders also discussed the consequences and possibilities of "the great victory we achieved over Iran," following an aerial war last month in which the United States joined Israeli attacks on Iran's nuclear sites.

Netanyahu is making his third US visit since Trump took office on January 20 and had earlier told reporters that while he did not think Israel's campaign in the Palestinian enclave was done, negotiators are "certainly working" on a ceasefire.

Trump met Netanyahu on Tuesday for the second time in two days to discuss the situation in Gaza, with the president's Middle East envoy indicating that Israel and Hamas were nearing an agreement on a ceasefire deal after nearly two years of war. Netanyahu also said that ceasefire efforts were underway.

A delegation from Qatar, the host of indirect talks between Israeli negotiators and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, met senior White House officials before Netanyahu's arrival on Tuesday, Axios said, citing a source familiar with the details.

According to Reuters, the White House had no immediate comment on the report. Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, said the number of issues preventing Israel and Hamas from reaching an agreement had decreased from four to one, expressing optimism for a temporary ceasefire deal by the end of the week.

Witkoff told reporters at a Cabinet meeting that the anticipated agreement would involve a 60-day ceasefire, with the release of ten live hostages and nine deceased individuals.

Netanyahu met with Vice President JD Vance and then visited the US Capitol on Tuesday, and is due back in Congress on Wednesday to meet with US Senate leaders.

He told reporters after a meeting with the Republican House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson that while he did not think Israel's campaign in the Palestinian enclave was done, negotiators are "certainly working" on a ceasefire.

"We have still to finish the job in Gaza, release all our hostages, eliminate and destroy Hamas' military and government capabilities," Netanyahu said.