IDF troops nabbed Monday a 14-year-old Palestinian who was carrying three pipe bombs at the Harawa checkpoint, south of Nablus.
No one was injured during the incident. Sappers dispatched to the scene supervised over the controlled explosions of the pipe bombs.
Palestinian sources said the arrested teen was identified as Hassan Halifah, from the Balata refugee
camp. Some leading al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terrorists are members of the Halifah family, they said. A few of them were killed during the intifada.
According to the IDF commander at the scene, the Palestinian teen said, “I did not know what was inside; the box was given to me at the Balata refugee camp, and I was asked to transfer it to the other side.
A senior al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades member from Balata said the organization had nothing to do with the incident and that it remains committed to the calm.
30 wanted Palestinians caught at Harawa
A few Balata residents said the arrested teen suffers from developmental problems, but he is not mentally-challenged.
IDF officials said the incident proves the necessity of the security checks at army roadblocks.
Last June a 16-year-old Palestinian was caught at the Harawa roadblock with five pipe bombs.
The teen said at the time, “I did not intend to blow anyone up; I wanted to get arrested, so I could get a break from this life,” adding that he had hoped to receive payment from the Palestinian Prisoners Association so he would be able to help his family.
In the past few months some 30 wanted Palestinians, along with ammunition and makeshift bombs, were seized at the Harawa checkpoint.
Balata residents said they are trying to put an end to the phenomenon of teens trying to smuggle bombs and ammunition into Israel.
Ali Waked contributed to this report
RSS
