Several Palestinian infiltrators breached the outer perimeter fence of the Israel Defense Forces’ Central Command headquarters in eastern Jerusalem on Sunday afternoon, the military confirmed.
“Several suspects were identified outside the Central Command base area and breached the outer fence. At this stage, there is no fear of infiltration into the base. Searches continue,” the IDF said in a statement cited by the country’s Army Radio broadcaster.
According to initial reports, some seven suspects were identified at the scene, two of whom were captured by security forces. The Border Police was said to be carrying out searches for the remaining suspects.
The army subsequently issued a public statement saying that “a number of suspects were identified outside an IDF base in central Israel.”
“Following extensive searches by security forces, fear of an infiltration into the base was allayed,” the IDF statement added.
IDF Central Command, based in eastern Jerusalem’s Shuafat neighborhood, covers Judea, Samaria, Jerusalem, the Sharon Plain, Gush Dan (Tel Aviv area) and the Shephelah (the Judean Foothills).
