West Bank terror cell indicted over plot to attack, kidnap Israelis
Shin Bet says terror suspects had dug a hole near one of their homes that they intended to use to hold Israeli hostages
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The Shin Bet security agency announced on Monday that it recently foiled plans by a West Bank terror cell from the Aqabat Jaber camp to carry out a kidnapping attack against Israelis.
The previous day, the agency revealed that it had foiled a plot by Palestinian university students to carry out a shooting attack on Israelis in the West Bank.
The agency said Monday that troops recently arrested Muhammad Tarik, 19, and Amin Qatash, 20, residents of Aqabat Jaber, near Jericho, over their involvement in the kidnapping plot. A third member of the cell was detained by the Palestinian Authority security forces, according to the Shin Bet.
The members of the West Bank terror cell had dug a hole in the ground where they intended to hold Israeli hostages, the Shin Bet said.
Tarik and Qatash established the cell, purchased firearms and other weapons, and recruited others to carry out a kidnapping alongside shooting and explosive attacks against IDF troops and civilians in the West Bank, according to the agency.
“It emerged that the cell dug a hole in which they planned to hide the hostages. The hole’s opening was camouflaged and located near the house of one of the cell members,” the Shin Bet statement read.
The Shin Bet said that it had seized a makeshift submachine gun, an explosive device and other military equipment connected to the suspected terror cell.
Following their arrests, the suspects were charged last week with a series of serious security offenses, including charges related to their alleged kidnapping plans.
On Sunday, the Shin Bet revealed that it had foiled a similar but unrelated terror plot by a cell made up of Hamas representatives on the student council at Birzeit University in the West Bank.
The Shin Bet said the cell was given instructions and funding by Hamas’s branch in Turkey, and was plotting to carry out a shooting attack in the West Bank.
Since October 7, troops have arrested some 4,400 wanted Palestinians across the West Bank, including more than 1,850 affiliated with Hamas.
According to the Palestinian Authority health ministry, more than 560 West Bank Palestinians have been killed in that time. The IDF says the vast majority of them were gunmen killed during raids or terrorists carrying out attacks.
During the same period, 22 Israelis, including security personnel, have been killed in terror attacks in Israel and the West Bank. Another five members of the security forces were killed in clashes with terror operatives in the West Bank.
