Israel Says Dozens of West Bank Terror Attacks Were Foiled; Cell Was Operating From Turkey

The Shin Bet and the IDF revealed today (Sunday) that over the past year, dozens of attacks directed by Hamas operatives working from Turkey as part of the organization's "West Bank Headquarters" were foiled. Alongside the disclosure, the names of several key operatives were cleared for publication. According to investigations carried out over the past year, they were involved in advancing terror activity against Israeli civilians and members of the security forces in Judea and Samaria.

According to the Shin Bet statement, Hamas's "West Bank Headquarters" has for years been responsible for advancing and directing attacks throughout Judea and Samaria. Over the past year, it said, its activity increased significantly, with operatives working from Turkey to direct terror infrastructure, recruit terrorists, transfer funds and weapons, and promote military activity intended for Judea and Samaria and Israel.

At the head of the network is Zaher Jabarin, who currently serves as head of the West Bank Headquarters, alongside Ayman Abu Khalil, who serves as head of the headquarters' military wing. According to security officials, the two are behind a significant portion of the direction and support provided to terror infrastructure operating on the ground.

As part of several investigations conducted over the past year, the Shin Bet and the IDF succeeded in exposing and implicating a number of Hamas operatives staying in Turkey and acting on its behalf. Among the names revealed was Ayman Sharawna, a Hamas operative in the West Bank Headquarters who worked to recruit operatives and advance terror activity. Also revealed was Muhammad Mallah, originally from the Tulkarm area, who divides his time between Turkey and Qatar and who, according to the findings, helped transfer funds for terror activity.

It was also revealed that Majed Jaaba, another operative in the West Bank Headquarters, was involved in assisting the smuggling of the weapon used in the attack at the Tunnels Checkpoint in November 2023. Alongside him was Walid Abu Nassar, who according to the investigations financed a terror infrastructure in the Bethlehem area, as well as Salam Ayish, who worked to recruit terror operatives in order to carry out attacks.

According to security officials, Hamas operatives based in Turkey are carrying out their activity without interference, meeting with operatives from Judea and Samaria and using infrastructure in the country to transfer instructions, funds, and various means. The Shin Bet and the IDF say that those funds and instructions are passed on to operatives on the ground and used to advance military activity and carry out attacks.

In the joint statement, it was said: "It can now be disclosed that over the past year, dozens of attacks directed by operatives of the Hamas terror organization's West Bank Headquarters operating from Turkey were foiled." The security bodies further emphasized that "the Shin Bet and the IDF view with great severity any connection to terror elements and direction by Hamas's West Bank Headquarters, as well as involvement in the transfer of funds and weapons intended for terror infrastructure in the Judea and Samaria area, and will continue to act decisively in order to thwart threats and ensure the security of the residents of and the State of Israel."