The Shin Bet released this week a classified report detailing how Israel’s internal security agency, along with the IDF, busted two Samaria terror cells. Several members of the cell, which operated out of Shechem and Nablus, are responsible for numerous terror attacks on Israeli drivers.
The arrests of the terrorists took place on January 15. Members of the cell conducted a joint attack in which they opened fire on Israeli vehicles at the Jit intersection close to Kedumim, a community in Samaria. Following the shootings, the cell threw explosives at passing vehicles. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the attack.
The Shin Bet also confirmed that after interrogating the terrorists, the cells were also involved in additional attacks that took place two months prior. Israel arrested five cell members, including central suspects Abd Al Jabad Amad Na’if Shakhshir, 23, and Jahad Ahmad Adel Shakhshir, 25.
Palestinian Authority security forces arrested other cell members, who remain in Palestinian custody.
“The arrest of the cell members, mere days after the attack was conducted at Jit intersection, prevented the continued establishment of a military cell, which in recent months conducted several attempts to attack Israeli citizens in the Samaria region,” the Shin Bet stated.
In a related incident declassified by the IDF, it was revealed that on February 25, around 12:30 am, IDF soldiers were attacked near Bir Zeit, located north of Ramallah. Terrorists opened fire on the soldiers and threw a stun grenade.
Two days after the attack, in an operation by the Shin Bet, IDF, and Israeli Police, several residents of Bir Zeit who are also members of the terrorist group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) were arrested on suspicion of having carried out the attack.
Fadi Tzadek Musa Washaha, 27, was one of the arrested suspects, has a history when it comes to carrying out terror attacks. Washaha was incarcerated in Israeli prison for several years on terror-related charges.
Under interrogation, Washaha admitted to carrying out the attack in Bir Zeit, along with another individual, Motazz Washaha. He explained that he used an improvised weapon during the attack, which he had planned carefully over the course of several months. Fadi admitted that he ran several simulations of the attack, taking into account different scenarios to carry out the attack successfully.
On the day of the attack, Motazz acted as a look-out for Fadi, who opened fire on the IDF post. Immediately after the attack, both men fled to Bir Zeit.
Motazz was killed two days after the attack when he resisted arrest and fought Israeli security forces. The PFLP held a “military funeral” for Motazz.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the killing of Motazz, calling for revenge on Palestinian media. As a result, over 200 local Arabs rioted against IDF soldiers, pelting them with stones. Five soldiers were injured in the attack.
“In this context, we would like to stress the high motivation terrorist organizations have to promote attacks on the ground on military targets, as well the threat from the PFLP organization, whose members are working on attacks against Israeli targets,” the Shin Bet said.
