Israel arrests dozens of Hamas operatives after solidarity visit to terrorists’ village

The suspects are members of Hamas’s student cell at Birzeit University and some have been “directly involved” in terrorist activities, says the IDF.

By JNS.org

Israeli security forces arrested dozens of Hamas activists on Wednesday near the village of Turmus Aya in Judea and Samaria, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement.

The suspects, according to the IDF—members of Hamas’s student cell at Birzeit University near Ramallah—were taken into custody shortly after a solidarity visit to the family home of Muntasir Shalabi in the village, according to the Palestinian daily Al Quds.

Shalabi, 44, is accused of killing 19-year-old yeshiva student Yehuda Guetta in a drive-by shooting on May 2 at the Tapuach Junction in Judea and Samaria. Two other Israelis, Benia Peretz and Amichai Chala, were also injured in the attack, Peretz seriously.

Shalabi was located in a hideout in the town of Silwad several days later and arrested. IDF forces destroyed Shalabi’s family home in Turmus Aya last week.

“Some of the apprehended terror operatives were directly involved in terror activities, including money transfers, incitement and the organization of Hamas activities in Judea and Samaria, and have been transferred to security forces for further questioning,” the Israeli military said in a statement.