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IDF raids Fatah offices in Ramallah
Large army force deploys near military intelligence compound in town with armored vehicles, bulldozers, threatens to break into building if operatives don’t turn themselves in; 18 men arrested
Ali Waked
IDF forces raided Tuesday night the Palestinian military intelligence headquarters in Ramallah. Eyewitnesses reported that an IDF force had encircled one of the buildings in the compound where a great number of wanted Fatah and al-Aqsa Brigades operatives were said to be hiding.
According to witnesses, the forces were accompanied by armored vehicles and bulldozers, and gunbattles broke out between soldiers and gunmen shortly after the soldiers entered the town. No injuries were reported.
After encircling the compound, the soldiers called on the security forces inside to come out and turn themselves in, threatening to break into the building if there ultimatum is not met. Eighteen wanted activists had surrendered themselves following this.
A Palestinian security source estimated that among the men arrested were senior officials, some who had been involved in perpetrating terror attacks against Israel.
The source told Ynet that in the course of the operation, another IDF force had encircled the general intelligence office, headed by Tawfiq Tirawi. "It is odd that while Israel talks of strengthening the Palestinian president, Abu Mazen, it launches such large military operations against his loyalists," he said.
Meanwhile, 13 wanted Palestinian suspects were arrested across the West Bank Tuesday night.
Efrat Weiss contributed to the report
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