Far-right Israeli minister says alleged attacker should be extradited to Israel

Far-right Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir has demanded that the suspect in Wednesday’s alleged hijacking attempt be extradited to Israel to face "the highest price here," according to a statement. In response to the thwarted attack that could have killed 180 Israelis, Ben Gvir emphasized that "anyone who planned to crash a plane and murder 180 Israelis should be extradited to Israel."

He stressed that Israel's security doctrine requires holding perpetrators accountable "wherever they are in the world."

While Ben Gvir pushed for Israel to take the lead in the case, multiple countries are expected to be involved in the investigation, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, the countries where the plane was eventually landed. UAE authorities have jurisdiction over the matter due to the aircraft being registered in the country, and UAE law applies to crimes committed aboard the plane, as reported by state news agency WAM on Thursday.

Initially, the suspect was arrested and questioned by Saudi authorities, as reported by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. Netanyahu later indicated that he believed the suspected attacker would be transferred to the UAE for further questioning, with Israel's involvement in the investigation.