6-member Palestinian cell charged in spate of recent shooting attacks, says Shin Bet

No injuries in attacks carried out by suspects in central West Bank; soldier and officer hurt in separate clash in Turmus Ayya

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

A handout photo from the Shin Bet on July 12, 2023, of six Palestinians arrested for shooting attacks in the central West Bank: (Clockwise from top left) Muhammad Hajj Muhammad, Ibrahim Naasan, Abdullah Hajj Muhammad, Majed Naasan, Ayyub Naasan, and Adb al-Karim Abu Aliya. (Shin Bet)
A handout photo from the Shin Bet on July 12, 2023, of six Palestinians arrested for shooting attacks in the central West Bank: (Clockwise from top left) Muhammad Hajj Muhammad, Ibrahim Naasan, Abdullah Hajj Muhammad, Majed Naasan, Ayyub Naasan, and Adb al-Karim Abu Aliya. (Shin Bet)

The Shin Bet security agency said six Palestinians were charged on Wednesday for a string of shooting attacks in the central West Bank in recent months, none of which caused injuries.

The Shin Bet named the members of the cell as Abdullah Hajj Muhammad, Ibrahim Naasan, Muhammad Hajj Muhammad, Majed Naasan, Ayyub Naasan, and Adb al-Karim Abu Aliya, all from the Palestinian village of al-Mughayyir.

The six were detained within the past few months following the various attacks, mostly in the area of the West Bank settlement of Shilo. Several firearms used in the attacks were seized.

In one of the attacks, on April 21, Abdullah Hajj Muhammad, Ibrahim Naasan, and Muhammad Hajj Muhammad opened fire at Israeli troops near the Palestinian town of Turmus Ayya, the Shin Bet charged.

The agency said the cell purchased firearms from a dealer in the Jenin area and was in contact with “terror elements” in the Gaza Strip for funding.

The Shin Bet said the gunmen published claims of their attacks on social media, including footage, under the name of the “Martyr Raed Naasan Group,” named after a Palestinian rioter shot dead by Israel Defense Forces troops in al-Mughayyir in November 2022.

Israeli forces operate in the West Bank, early July 12, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces)

Indictments were filed against the six, charging them with various terror offenses, after which the Shin Bet released details of the investigation.

During the past year, Palestinian gunmen have repeatedly targeted military posts, troops operating along the West Bank security barrier, Israeli settlements and civilians on the roads.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday morning, an IDF soldier and a Border Police officer were lightly hurt during clashes with Palestinians in the West Bank town of Turmus Ayya.

The military said troops entered the town to seize some NIS 650,000 ($177,000) in cash, suspected to have been used to fund terror activities.

“During the activity, dozens of Palestinians gathered in the area and attacked the forces, threw stones, and threw paint bottles,” the IDF said.

The IDF said troops responded with riot dispersal means and live fire in the air, and detained two suspects.

One IDF soldier was taken to the hospital in good condition after being assaulted by a Palestinian, and a Border Police officer was treated at the scene after being hit by a stone, the military said.

Early Wednesday, IDF troops detained nine wanted Palestinians during raids across the West Bank, with violent clashes in some areas, the military said.

The military has been carrying out near-nightly raids in the West Bank for the past year and a half, amid a series of deadly Palestinian terror attacks.

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