Palestinian media reported a series of arrests on Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning in several cities within the governorates of Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarm, and Hebron. Additionally, the IDF mapped the homes of the two terrorists responsible for the shooting attack near Hebron, where Bat-Sheva Nagri was tragically murdered earlier this week. This mapping, conducted ahead of their potential demolition, is in accordance with Israeli law.
IDF forces carried out arrests in the cities of Jabba, Al-Yamoun, and Wasila Al-Dahhar in the Jenin district. They raided the homes of wanted individuals, including the senior Hamas official Nazi Abu-Oun, arresting him and his son during the operation. A senior member of the Islamic Jihad movement, Maher Al-Ahras, was also arrested at his residence. In addition, Sadiq Abu Al-Khir, another senior figure within the Islamic Jihad, was taken into custody by special IDF forces.
#West_Bank: #IDF forces conducted a series of arrests last night, targeting senior officials from various Palestinian organizations
ā AbuAliEnglish (@AbuAliEnglishB1) August 23, 2023
Notably, among those apprehended is Maher al-Akhras, a high-ranking figure within the #Islamic_Jihad (#PIJ) and a resident of... (1/3) pic.twitter.com/QUDfEOnHiB
In the Nablus district, four Palestinians were arrested. The Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners reported that Bilal Shteyeh, the father of the two terrorist operatives Moaz and Malik Shteyeh, was detained after his house was raided. Moreover, the released terrorist Ibrahim Majed Douglas was apprehended at his home in the town of Baraka. In the cities of Nablus and Tulkarm, two more wanted individuals were taken into custody, including a released terrorist suspected of resuming terrorist activities.
Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas's political bureau, issued a statement declaring that "the expansion of the despicable activities of the occupying entity will lead to an escalation in conflict. Our people will oppose the blockade and the settlements. There will be no political or security solution in the West Bank unless the Zionist occupier leaves our land in the West Bank and Jerusalem."
WATCH: IDF arrests Palestinian terrorists who murdered Israeli mother https://t.co/p9tmi13lib
ā joseph backus (@joebackuscanada) August 23, 2023
Ziad Al-Nakhla, the Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad Movement, responded with his statement, saying, "the threats made by the leaders of the occupation do not frighten the Palestinian people or their brave resistance fighters. The resistance will exercise its natural and legitimate right to confront and respond to any aggression. The young men of the resistance have the courage and ability to react and escalate the situation with determination."
It is important to highlight that amidst the various arrests made by the IDF and Israeli Police on Tuesday night, the terrorist responsible for killing Shay and Aviad, a father and son from Ashdod this past Saturday, has still not been apprehended. The meticulous efforts by the security forces are aimed at maintaining the rule of law and order, while the political leadership continues to navigate complex territorial and ideological challenges that shape the realities of this volatile region.
