Terrorist freed in hostage deal arrested for plotting to bomb Rachel’s Tomb

Teenage terrorist who was released from prison in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages earlier this year arrested again after he returned to terrorism, building bombs for use against Israelis.

By World Israel News Staff

A Palestinian Arab terrorist released earlier this year in a deal securing the return of Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip has been rearrested by Israeli security personnel after he returned to terrorism, the Israeli police department announced Thursday morning.

Earlier this year, the suspect, a 16-year-old resident of the Palestinian Authority-administered city of Bethlehem, was granted an early release from prison as part of the January 19th hostage deal.

The terrorist had been arrested about a year ago, the police department announced, after he was caught red-handed manufacturing bombs, which he supplied to anti-Israel terror groups.

At the time of his arrest last year, the terrorist was found to be in possession of 25 explosive devices, police said.

Since his release from prison this year, however, the suspect has returned to the same terrorist activities he was engaged in before his 2024 arrest, authorities said in Thursday morning’s statement.

In an operation overnight conducted by the Anti-Crime Unit (YALP) and the Judea District Special Patrol Unit (Yassam) from the Judea and Samaria District Police, police officers raided the suspect’s home and placed him under arrest.

The operation included officers from the Border Police’s K9 handler squad, and was conducted after the Judea District Anti-Crime Unit received intelligence regarding the suspect’s involvement in bomb-manufacturing operations.

After his arrest, the terrorist was transferred for questioning.

“The Judea and Samaria District Police will continue to act decisively, professionally, and with zero tolerance toward terrorism and anyone who seeks to harm human life or the security of the State of Israel,” the police department said following the arrest operation.

According to a report by Amit Segal, the intel information which police received indicated that the terrorist not only was involved in preparing explosive devices, but that he also planned to use them in a bombing attack targeting Rachel’s Tomb on the outskirts of Bethlehem.