Security forces apprehended two members of a Palestinian terrorist cell from the Jericho area that planned to kidnap Israeli citizens, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) said on Monday.
Muhammad Tariq, 19, and Amin Katash, 20, were arrested in the Aqabat Jaber camp—located some two miles from Jericho in the Jordan Valley—on charges of planning attacks against civilians and security forces.
The Palestinian Authority detained a third member of the terrorist squad, the Shin Bet statement said, adding that charges were filed against the suspects for “serious security offenses” including attempts to carry out shootings, kidnappings and membership in a terrorist organization.
The Shin Bet investigation found that Tariq and Katash established the terrorist cell, purchased weapons and recruited additional members. They also dug a hole near the home of one of the terrorists with the intention of hiding hostages there, the indictments allege.
The forces that arrested the squad also discovered a Carlo-type submachine gun, an explosive charge, radios, tactical vests and combat uniforms, according to Monday’s statement.
On Sunday, Israeli security forces announced that they had thwarted a large terrorist plot orchestrated by Hamas operatives in Turkey and involving a squad led by students from Birzeit University in Samaria.
The cell, operating under the name “Kutla Islamiya,” was in the advanced stages of planning a major attack when it was uncovered. Intelligence gathered by the Shin Bet indicates that the suspects were acting on directives from Hamas in Turkey, with the ultimate goal of establishing a foothold for Hamas operations against Israeli targets.
Last week, two Israeli civilians and two IDF soldiers on leave were lightly wounded when terrorists targeted their vehicle with an explosive device near the Jewish community of Hermesh in northwestern Samaria.
The group of wounded victims, which included an 18-month-old baby, continued to drive towards an army post in the area and were evacuated from there to a nearby hospital by military ambulance.
