Israeli forces dismantle Hamas cell during raid in West Bank’s Akraba area
Israeli authorities say the group was planning attacks against civilians, while troops also uncovered an M16 rifle and explosives
Israeli security forces arrested 10 members of a Hamas cell and located a rocket and a cache of weapons during an operation in the Akraba area of the West Bank, Israeli authorities said Sunday.
The operation was conducted jointly by the Israel Defense Forces, the Israel Security Agency, known as the Shin Bet, and Yamam, the Israeli police’s national counterterrorism unit, according to a joint statement issued by the IDF and the security agency.
Israeli authorities described the detainees as members of a Hamas cell that had been working to prepare attacks against Israeli civilians.
During searches in the area, security forces found a rocket without a launcher, the statement said. The rocket was dismantled at the scene.
Israeli authorities said that questioning of one of the detainees subsequently led forces to a concealed weapons cache. The cache contained an M16 rifle and a large quantity of explosives that were allegedly intended for the production of explosive devices.
The rifle and explosive materials were also dismantled at the site, according to the statement. Authorities did not say whether the rocket was operational or provide information about where it was manufactured.
The Israeli military and security agency said operations against suspected armed groups would continue across the West Bank as part of efforts to prevent attacks and protect Israeli civilians and residents of the area.