Israeli forces overnight Monday arrested nine Palestinian terror suspects in operations across Judea and Samaria.
In the Balata camp on the outskirts of Nablus, the forces located and destroyed several explosive devices that had been planted to harm troops.
In other raids, soldiers confiscated weapons, including a Kalashnikov rifle.
No Israelis were injured.
Since Oct. 7, the IDF has detained 3,500 wanted Palestinian terrorism suspects throughout Judea and Samaria, more than 1,500 of whom are associated with Hamas.
במהלך הלילה, כוחות צה״ל, שב״כ ומג״ב עצרו תשעה מבוקשים ברחבי יהודה ושומרון.
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 19, 2024
בבלאטה שבשכם איתרו הלוחמים והשמידו מספר מטעני נפץ שאותרו על ציר במרחב ויועדו לפגוע בכוחותינו>> pic.twitter.com/vPbTFQP90c
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces’ Central Command, which is responsible for Judea and Samaria, has established a team to investigate alleged terror tunnels in the area.
The unit, which was established several months ago, consists of engineering and intelligence specialists, as well as civilian experts, Ynet reported on Tuesday.
About five shafts have been uncovered in Jenin and Nur al-Shams near Tulkarm, though none led to attack tunnels, according to the report.
The IDF has looked into complaints by residents of Bat Hefer, a village east of Netanya, of tunneling sounds coming from the direction of Palestinian Authority-controlled areas near the Judea and Samaria security barrier.
In recent months, the army has also investigated possible infiltration tunnels Israeli forces discovered near Jewish communities in the Hebron Hills in Judea and Shiloh in Samaria’s Binyamin region.
