Steven Sotloff speaks before his murder by IS
Steven Sotloff speaks before his murder by ISScreenshot

An indictment was filed Monday against two teenage boys from Ashkelon, who are accused of attacking and robbing another boy at knifepoint outside of the house where he lives. 

The suspects, aged 16 and 17, accosted the victim, whom they had no prior acquaintance with, as he rode home on an electric bicycle in late November.

According to the indictment, the two teenagers began to shake the boy off of his bicycle, pushed him hard into the bomb shelter of the apartment building and then began to beat him with great force.  

One of the suspects grabbed a knife and asked the victim if he had heard of Islamic State (ISIS) and if he knew "what they do." The boy replied hesitantly that ISIS "cuts heads off." 

The assailants responded by threatening the boy with beheading if he told the police or anyone about the incident: "That's exactly what will happen to you if anyone comes looking for us." 

The suspects then left the area taking with them the victim's bike, valued at 3,500 shekels ($900), his 1,000 shekel ($250) mobile phone, as well as an unknown amount of cash the victim had been carrying. 

Despite the threats, the boy informed the police of the incident. During the subsequent investigation the stolen bicycle was identified and returned to the victim. 

Support for the Islamic State terror group has become a growing trend in the country among young Israeli Arabs, and its influence is clearly far-reaching. 

Government sources revealed last month that no fewer than 30 Arab citizens of Israel have joined ISIS, and that there is a move in the Knesset to remove their citizenship.

Arab citizens have also been documented displaying flying ISIS flags and posting praise for the group on Facebook and other social media sites.