Israeli Forces Arrest Five Militants Planning Attacks in West Bank

Elite Israeli military forces from the Duvdevan unit apprehended a cell of five militants in the West Bank town of Qabatiya early Friday morning. The operation, led by the Menashe Brigade, was based on intelligence from the Shin Bet security agency and targeted individuals suspected of planning attacks against Israeli civilians and security forces. According to the military, the five men were involved in planning hostile actions. Soldiers reportedly arrested them within ten minutes of arriving at their various locations. During searches of their homes, Israeli forces discovered and confiscated an M16 assault rifle, along with other weapons and military equipment. The five suspects were handed over to security services for interrogation.

These arrests followed a stabbing attempt near Damascus Gate in Jerusalem just hours earlier. A 33-year-old resident of the Beit Hanina neighborhood, who possessed an Israeli identity card, attempted to stab civilians around 3:45 AM before being shot and killed by Border Police. No civilians or security personnel were harmed in that incident.