Israel busted ‘extraordinarily’ large Hamas terror cell in West Bank — Shin Bet

Israeli forces uncovered a large and highly active Hamas terror cell operating out of the Palestinian city of Nablus earlier this year that was allegedly planning to conduct a number of bombings and shooting attacks in Israel and the northern West Bank, the Shin Bet security service reveals.

“In recent months, the Shin Bet, Israel Defense Forces and Israel Police uncovered a Hamas terror cell, extraordinary in its size and level of activity, which operated in the Nablus area,” the Shin Bet says in a statement.

“During the suspects’ interrogations by the Shin Bet, it was determined that the cell planned to carry out terrorist bombings in central cities in Israel and the northern West Bank, including a bombing in Tel Aviv, a suicide bombing and an explosive attack in Jerusalem, a bombing in the Itamar settlement and shooting attacks in the Samaria region,” the security service says, using the Hebrew name for the northern West Bank.

The Shin Bet says it arrested more than 20 suspected members of the Hamas cell in April, including its two leaders: Mutassem Muhammad Salem and Fares Kamil Zavidi.

The case was under gag order until Salem and Zavidi were indicted earlier today.

Israeli security forces found multiple explosive devices that the group had manufactured, including one that weighed 10 kilograms (22 pounds), which could be detonated by cellphone. Another 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of explosives were also uncovered, the Shin Bet says.

— Judah Ari Gross