IDF arrests al-Aqsa Brigades operative
Fatah Martyrs' Brigades' Nasr Mahmoud Rashad Abu Kishk, who was involved in number of shooting attacks, arms trafficking arrested in IDF, Shin Bet operation near Nablus
The IDF and the Shin Bet arrested Nasr Mahmoud Rashad Abu Kishk, a member of Fatah's al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades wanted by the security forces for a number of years on Friday.
The military alleges that Abu Kishk, a resident of the Askar refugee camp near Nablus is responsible for terror activity carried out in recent years, including shooting attacks against IDF forces operating in Nablus in the West Bank.
Abu Kishk was also involved in a shooting attack in the settlement of Yitzhar on March 25, 2001, in which Gilad Zar, security officer of the Samaria Regional Council was seriously injured. Zar was killed in another attack a month-and-a-half later.
The suspect also allegedly murdered a Nablus resident suspected of collaborating with Israel.
Abu Kishk has recently been involved in trafficking ammunition and weaponry and contacting terror operatives who had planned attacks against Israeli forces and have since been arrested.
He has been transferred to Israel for investigation.
According to Palestinian sources, Abu Kishk commanded the al-Awda Brigades, one of al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades' armed factions.
Abu Kishk was at one point included in an amnesty deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and was meant to served time in the PA's Jneid prison.
After a dispute with security officials in the PA and failure to serve his term in prison, Abu Kishk was removed from the list of pardoned Palestinians and was arrested early Friday morning.
A source close to Abu Kishk told Ynet he was surprised with the arrest: "This show that the military put on is unclear. Everyone knew he was in a cast after a fall and everyone also know that he was a free man, unlike other wanted men, so the arrest is unclear."
Ali Waked contributed to this report
