The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) announced on Monday that it prevented a massive terrorist bombing attack and suicide bombings slated to occur within Israel.
It said it arrested a number of terror suspects in the West Bank and uncovered a number of operatives in the Gaza Strip.
The terror cell, the agency said, was busted and its plans thwarted on December 14, with those involved undergoing interrogations in recent weeks. The agency said the bomb had been built, was ready for use and was seized before it could be detonated.
The suspects arrested were part of the West Bank’s “Resistance Committees” and al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, with influence and planning from Gaza terrorist operatives. The bomb was similar to the one that was used in the attack on a bus stop in Jerusalem last month that killed two people.
There were multiple rounds of breakthroughs in the case, with several waves of arrests, including uncovering operatives, their handlers and explosive materials designated for a bombing within Israel, said the Shin Bet.
Who was involved in the plot?
Leading terrorists involved in the plot included Ahmad Fathi Omar Hjaj from Jabalya in Gaza, a known explosives expert, as well as Maha Ladawi of Netzirat, who helped create the infrastructure needed to carry out the plot.
Additional Gazans from Rafah who were involved included: Jihad Ahmad, Tzabari Muhammad Tzabari Aram and Iman Yusef Halil Zakut.
Besides intelligence work revealing the identities of these Gazans who were involved, the Shin Bet arrested West Bank terror operatives, including Yunis Uda from the al-Ras village near Tulkarm, Khaled Marei from Bala village near Tulkarm, Ahmad Taher Jaradaat of Jenin and Kis al-Shaiv from Kabatiya.
The Shin Bet said, “the actions that were carried out and that thwarted the planned attacks are part of a continuous campaign that the Shin Bet, the IDF and the police have been undertaking together to prevent terror in Israel using a diverse range of tools and tactics.”
Further, the agency flagged the deep involvement of Gazan operatives in directing the West Bank terrorists, saying it holds Hamas responsible for the planned terror attack.
Prime Minister Yair Lapid praised the Shin Bet adding, “the war against terrorism and terrorist infrastructure continues every day on every front – the security forces will continue to act at all times to cut off all attempts to harm us.”
The year 2022 has been one of the deadliest periods for both sides, with over 100 Palestinians and dozens of Israelis killed.
The IDF and Israeli intelligence have been in an almost constant fight with terrorists in the West Bank since March, with periodic times of calm in between repeated waves of terror.