Israeli authorities have charged thirteen Arab-Israeli individuals from the northern part of the country with allegations of plotting terrorist activities under the guidance of Hamas. Primarily originating from Sakhnin, these individuals reportedly acquired weaponry through contacts within the West Bank, as disclosed in a combined statement from police and Shin Bet intelligence services. The operation uncovered that a member of this group had been in direct communication with Hamas operatives located in the Gaza Strip, receiving detailed instructions for the manufacturing of explosives and directives to expand their network through recruitment.
During the course of the investigation, law enforcement was able to confiscate four firearms, alongside ammunition and various other pieces of equipment. These indictments, set to be filed, reveal that some of the accused were previously involved in disturbances amid the Gaza conflict in May 2021. In a separate but related development, a Palestinian from the West Bank, suspected of arms trafficking, was apprehended.
Israeli Police & Shin Bet say 13 Israeli Arabs & 1 West Bank Palestinian are being charged with planning Ramadan terror attacks for Hamas. Additionally, police arrested 20 East Jerusalem residents for incitement and support for terrorism over the past 2 weeks. Via @TimesofIsrael
ā Eretz Yisrael 24 (@EretzYisrael24) March 10, 2024
In addition to these charges, the Israeli police have detained twenty individuals from East Jerusalem over the past fortnight on suspicions related to incitement and supporting terrorist activities, especially poignant as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins. The police have expressed concerns over the potential misuse of Ramadan for the propagation of misinformation and "fake news," particularly through social media, by entities aiming to distort the reality of situations in Jerusalem, notably around the Old City and the Temple Mount area. They identified terrorist organizations and affiliates as the primary sources of such disinformation, aiming to incite violence and spread false narratives about the conditions in these areas.
Parallel to these events, the IDF and local security units managed to detain six individuals who had illicitly crossed into Israel from Jordan near the Yarmouk River, with the suspects reportedly seeking employment.
Breach in Jordan-Israel border fence discovered https://t.co/GDyOyb4E0D
ā Sport Sage (@SageSport5521) March 9, 2024
This incident highlights the ongoing security challenges along Israel's extensive border with Jordan, which, despite being a zone of peace since the 1994 treaty between the two nations, has seen a recent uptick in arms smuggling, attributed largely to Iranian influence. The Israeli security apparatus remains on high alert, particularly in the wake of the October 7 massacre led by Hamas, with increased concerns over potential incursions from pro-Iranian factions aiming to orchestrate similar attacks. To counteract these threats, Israel has bolstered its military presence along the Jordanian frontier, striving to maintain security and prevent further violence.
