A Palestinian Authority resident Arab has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for attacking a young Israeli couple in Tel Aviv and brutally raping the young woman.

Ahmed Bani Jaaber of Shechem confessed to the crime as part of a plea bargain.

Jaaber’s female victim opposed the plea bargain, because it did not require him to confess that he was motivated by nationalist hate. A confession that the attack was motivated by hatred of Israelis and Jews could have given the victim recognition as a victim of terrorism, which would mean additional government assistance in rehabilitation.

The attack last year made national headlines, due to both its brutality and the attacker’s brazenness in targeting victims in the centrally located Gan Ha’Ir mall. The case was initially under a rare gag order.

The judges who sentenced Jaaber noted the extreme brutality of the attack in their verdict. “These were despicable, condemnable acts,” they wrote. “We have never seen such cruelty, it was exceptionally cruel in every way.”

“This case is outstanding in its severity. The perpetrator’s acts were unbelievably sadistic… The brutality and violence were at the highest level,” they added.

Jaaber was ordered to pay his victims roughly half a million shekels.