Israel foils ‘terror cell’ plans to kidnap civilians in West Bank

Jul 22. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Israel’s internal intelligence service, the Shin Bet, announced on Monday that it had managed to thwart plans by a “terrorist cell” in the Aqabar Jabr refugee camp in the West Bank to carry out an attack and take Israeli citizens hostage.

Two people have been detained for their alleged involvement in the preparations, Israeli authorities said, while a third has been arrested by Palestinian Authority security forces, according to a Shin Bet statement reported by The Times of Israel.

Those arrested by Israel are Mohamed Tarik and Amin Qatash, aged 19 and 20 respectively, and both residents of Aqabat Jar. The Shin Bet names them as founders of the terrorist cell and responsible for purchasing weapons and recruiting new members.

The group’s objective was to carry out attacks against Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops and Israeli settlers in the West Bank, and take advantage of the opportunity to take several people hostage, holding them in a hole dug in the ground.

“The cell dug a hole in which they planned to hide the hostages. The hole’s opening was camouflaged and located near the home of one of the cell members,” the Shin Bet said in a statement, which also included a video of the hideout.