From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, August 8, 2023
Shin Bet says it foiled West Bank terror cell’s plans for shooting attacks
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The Shin Bet security agency says it has foiled plans by a terror cell of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in the West Bank to carry out attacks. It says the cell received orders from an operative living in Lebanon.
According to the Shin Bet, Aalam Qaabi, originally from Nablus in the northern West Bank, was deported to the Gaza Strip in the 2011 Shalit deal, and currently lives in Lebanon. “Qaabi leads terror activity [in the West Bank], as part of which he recruits Palestinian terror operatives, some of whom are relatives, in order to carry out attacks against Israelis,” the agency says.
The Shin Bet names two suspects indicted in connection to the terror cell: Murad Qaabi, a resident of the Balata refugee camp near Nablus and a relative of Aalam Qaabi, and Khaled Abu Alhaija, a resident of Jenin.
The agency says that during the investigation of Murad Qaabi, “it emerged that he was instructed by Aalam to carry out shooting attacks.” Two M16 assault rifles in Murad Qaabi’s possession were seized, the Shin Bet adds.
In the investigation of Abu Alhaija, the Shin Bet says it emerged he was recruited by Aalam Qaabi “to carry out attacks and to head a military unit that would operate in the Jenin area.”
The pair are charged with “serious” security offenses, according to the agency. Several other suspects were also detained over suspicions they were recruited by Aalam Qaabi, the Shin Bet adds.
The Times of Israel Community.