Weapon confiscated during arrest
IDF: Terrorists planned to murder settler
Army, Shin Bet expose two terrorist cells whose members would initiate riots, fire at soldiers. According to indictment, cells planned series of attacks in West Bank
Cleared for publication: The Shin Bet and IDF
in recent weeks exposed two terrorist cells suspected of executing shooting attacks and planting explosive devices against a military force.
One of the cells is responsible for a shooting attack against a Border Guard jeep near the West Bank town of Beit Sahour in late August and to an explosive device which targeted an IDF patrol near the village of Zuata about two months ago.
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According to the indictment filed against eight suspects, one of the cells planned a series of additional attacks, mainly in the Bethlehem area. The cell members would initiate riots and then fire at security forces dispatched to the area.
There were no injuries in the attacks.
The cell's six members planned to target civilians arriving at the village of Shaura. They were arrested several days after the shooting attack on the Border Guard jeep.
Their investigation revealed "an extensive activity of a local cell, highly motivated to target Jews and the security forces, which armed itself with improvised weapons, underwent training and carried out several shooting attacks and placed explosive devices, as well as hurling Molotov cocktails in many instances," the indictment states.
Additional shooting attacks thwarted
The indictments were filed in October to the Military Court in Judea, ascribing serious offenses to the detainees, including attempted murder, production and possession of weapons, trading in warfare equipment, military training, etc.
Their accomplices were indicted for the production and possession of weapons.
According to the indictment, the cell members' arrests prevented additional shooting attacks and thwarted a plan to murder a settler driving Palestinians in the Shuara area and a Palestinian suspected of collaborating with Israel.
The cell's leading members are Udai Adel Ibrahim Salem, 22, Ibrahim Kader Mahmad Darawi, 21, Mahmad Adnan Mahmad Shawara, 19, and Islam Zaal Khalef Salem, 18 – all residents of Shuara.
Meanwhile, the trial of two other terror activists from the Nablus area is expected to begin in the coming days. One of them is a Hamas activists arrested on suspicion of detonating an explosive device against an IDF patrol near Zuata.
The two admitted in their investigation that they built and planted the device a day before their arrest.
In addition, the security forces arrested other Shuara residents suspected of being involved in the attacks: Hamdan Issa Mahmad Hamdan, 20, and Alaa Mahmad Khalef Salem, 29. A Carl Gustav recoilless rifle used by the cell in some of the shooting attacks was found in Hamdan's home.
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