Israel’s Shin Bet security agency announced on Tuesday that it has stopped a Hamas terrorist cell from carrying out an attack in Jerusalem earlier this summer.
According to the Shin Bet, the cell, which had been planning the attack, was operating under the direction of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and was targeting both Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
The cell’s existence was uncovered following the discovery in June by the Shin Bet, Israel Defense Forces and Israel Police of a 3-kilogram explosive device, in addition to a bomb-making workshop, in Hebron.
Cell members were instructed to establish teams to carrying out kidnapping, shooting and stabbing attacks, and to purchase weapons and recruit others, the Shin Bet said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the security forces for thwarting the attack, saying “our enemies should know that our long arm will reach whoever tries to attack us.”