עברית
Israel Says It Foiled Hamas Kidnapping Plot in the West Bank
The Shin Bet, Israel Police, and IDF arrested ten Hamas-linked suspects from Beita in the northern West Bank. Investigators say the cell carried out IED attacks on troops, planned additional major assaults and a kidnapping of a Jewish resident, and even dug a tunnel to hold a hostage.
Explosive device (Archive photo: IDF Spokesperson)It was cleared for publication Wednesday evening that the Shin Bet, the Israel Police’s Judea and Samaria District Central Unit, and the IDF foiled a Hamas-affiliated cell of ten Palestinians from Samaria. Over the past year, the attackers carried out several improvised explosive device attacks against IDF forces and planned to carry out additional major attacks, including a kidnapping targeting a Jewish resident of the area.
The arrested suspects are residents of the village of Beita in Samaria. Over the past year, they worked to advance shooting and bomb attacks. As part of the investigation, a large cache of weapons was seized from the cell, including an M16 rifle, explosives, and remotely detonated devices.
During their interrogation by the Shin Bet and the police, information was received indicating that members of the cell had carried out a series of attacks, including IED attacks against IDF forces in March–April 2025. In those attacks, three IDF soldiers were wounded, two of them in serious condition.
It also emerged that members of the cell took part in several shooting attacks and were preparing to execute additional significant bombings, including plans to carry out a kidnapping and even digging a tunnel for the purpose of the abduction.
(Photo: Shin Bet Spokesperson)
The investigation found that one member of the cell dug a tunnel about six meters deep behind his house, with the goal of holding captives there. As part of planning the kidnapping, the cell conducted surveillance of a resident of the area they planned to abduct; however, understanding they would have difficulty carrying it out, they did not move forward with the attack.
Security officials said today that "Foiling the Hamas cell constitutes a significant closing of the circle and prevented additional severe attacks that the cell members had planned. With the conclusion of the investigation by the Shin Bet and the Judea and Samaria District, and after a body of evidence was established for their actions—each defendant according to his part—indictments were filed with the Samaria Military Court. The terrorists were charged with attempted murder, shooting at a person, and attempted kidnapping".
