6-member Palestinian cell charged in spate of recent shooting attacks, says Shin Bet
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The Shin Bet security agency says six Palestinians are charged for a string of shooting attacks in the central West Bank in recent months, all without causing injuries.
The Shin Bet names 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 Shin Bet says 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 IDF troops in al-Mughayyir in November 2022.
Indictments are filed against the six charging them with various terror offenses, leading the Shin Bet to release details of the investigation.
