ISA and Israel Police arrest Jerusalem Hamas cell members
The suspects planned to shoot at Israeli targets and public figures including MK Itamar Ben-Gvir, abduct soldiers and attack the Jerusalem light rail using a UAV
IsraelDefense
| 24/05/2022
Pedestrians cross a street next to the light rail trams in Jerusalem, archive. Photo by REUTERS / Amit Cohen
An investigation by the Israeli Security Agency (ISA, also known as Shin-Bet), in cooperation with the Israel Police (Jerusalem District), has revealed that in early April 2022 Hamas terrorists from eastern Jerusalem planned to attack Israeli targets in various formats.
The suspects planned to shoot at Israeli targets and public figures including MK Itamar Ben-Gvir, manufacture IEDs and abduct soldiers. They acquired a UAV in order to arm it and use it to attack the Jerusalem light rail.
The ISA has learned that this cell was led by Rashid Rashak, a prominent Hamas militant in the Old City of Jerusalem, who also planned – together with Mansur Tzafadi, a Hamas militant from Abu Tor – to carry out a shooting attack or suicide attack in Jerusalem.
The members of the cell also planned to hide in Hebron or Jenin after carrying out their planned attacks.
The ISA learned that Rashak established a network of Jerusalem militants the goal of which was to cause disturbances in the city's eastern neighborhoods and in Har Homa during this past Ramadan in order to undermine stability in the city, including on the Temple Mount. To this end, the militants delivered many fireworks, flags and Hamas videos to eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods and the Temple Mount for use during the Ramadan disturbances.
The Israeli security forces arrested several suspects, Hamas militants from eastern Jerusalem, and seized the aforementioned UAV, a camera that was to be used to photograph abductees, cash and Hamas organizational equipment.
The State Attorney (Jerusalem District) is filing serious indictments against the suspect.
The suspects planned to shoot at Israeli targets and public figures including MK Itamar Ben-Gvir, abduct soldiers and attack the Jerusalem light rail using a UAV
Pedestrians cross a street next to the light rail trams in Jerusalem, archive. Photo by REUTERS / Amit Cohen
An investigation by the Israeli Security Agency (ISA, also known as Shin-Bet), in cooperation with the Israel Police (Jerusalem District), has revealed that in early April 2022 Hamas terrorists from eastern Jerusalem planned to attack Israeli targets in various formats.
The suspects planned to shoot at Israeli targets and public figures including MK Itamar Ben-Gvir, manufacture IEDs and abduct soldiers. They acquired a UAV in order to arm it and use it to attack the Jerusalem light rail.
The ISA has learned that this cell was led by Rashid Rashak, a prominent Hamas militant in the Old City of Jerusalem, who also planned – together with Mansur Tzafadi, a Hamas militant from Abu Tor – to carry out a shooting attack or suicide attack in Jerusalem.
The members of the cell also planned to hide in Hebron or Jenin after carrying out their planned attacks.
The ISA learned that Rashak established a network of Jerusalem militants the goal of which was to cause disturbances in the city's eastern neighborhoods and in Har Homa during this past Ramadan in order to undermine stability in the city, including on the Temple Mount. To this end, the militants delivered many fireworks, flags and Hamas videos to eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods and the Temple Mount for use during the Ramadan disturbances.
The Israeli security forces arrested several suspects, Hamas militants from eastern Jerusalem, and seized the aforementioned UAV, a camera that was to be used to photograph abductees, cash and Hamas organizational equipment.
The State Attorney (Jerusalem District) is filing serious indictments against the suspect.
