Nablus operation ends with 23 arrests

For 3 days IDF forces besiege Nablus building where wanted terror suspects hid; security officials stress Hizbullah involvement in initiating plans for terror attacks

Reuters | Published: 07.22.06, 14:18

After three days IDF forces ended an operation to nab wanted terror suspects in Nablus.

During the operations, 23 Palestinians suspected of planning terror attacks against Israel, in some cases following instructions by Hizbullah, were arrested.

Five Palestinian gunmen were killed during the operation.

Staff Sergeant Osher Damari was killed Monday, the first day of the operation during which parts of the Mukata'a building in the West Bank city were destroyed.

Security officials said Hizbullah instructed its operatives in the West Bank to intensify their attacks against Israel.

Troops exchanged fire with Palestinian gunmen in the compound killing three who tried to flee the scene.

IDF troops started knocking down parts of the structure where gunmen barricaded themselves.

Riots broke out in the compound as Palestinians hurled stones and concrete blocks at troops, lightly injuring a soldier.

Soldiers fired rubber bullets and tear gas grenades to disperse the rioters.

The IDF also believes that Hizbullah instructed the gunmen to take over the Mukata'a building in the city as part of attempts by the Shiite group to boost its influence in the Palestinian Authority.

Among those arrested was Nael Yassin, 30, a senior al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades commander whose activities are funded by Hizbullah.

Yassin was a member of the PA police force. In September 2000 he killed Border Guard officer Yossi Tabja during a joint patrol of Qalqiliya.

Yassin was also responsible for the kidnapping of a US student in Nablus last month. The student was release unharmed.

Fouad Assi, 21, of the Balata refugee camp in the city, was arrested for belonging to the Tanzim terror group and contacting Hizbullah agents in the Gaza Strip.