IDF Chief of Staff Warns of Tense Period as Hamas Cell Dismantled

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir conducted a situation assessment on Sunday with the General Staff Forum as part of the surprise drill "Dawn's Dawn 2.0." The drill, which began Sunday, is part of preparations for a multi-front conflict. Zamir stated, "We are in a tense and volatile period in all arenas, and we are preparing for the upcoming holiday period." He emphasized the IDF's readiness for a surprise attack, noting that the exercise simulates multi-front warfare to test preparedness at all levels.

In parallel, a joint operation by the Yamam counter-terrorism unit, the Shin Bet security agency, and the IDF led to the arrest of 10 Hamas operatives in the Samaria region. During the operation, a rocket was located in the village of Aqaba. Following interrogation, one of the arrested operatives revealed the location of additional weapons, including M16 rifles and explosives intended for bomb-making. Explosives disposal experts from the Border Police in Judea and Samaria neutralized the rocket and explosives on-site, while the weapons were confiscated.

The operation was the result of several months of intensive intelligence gathering by the Shin Bet. The intelligence indicated a specific location where weapons were hidden. Further interrogation of one of the detainees led to the discovery of a pit dug near a tree in a field, from which a bag containing bomb-making materials and disassembled M16 rifle parts was retrieved. Explosives experts destroyed the materials, and the weapons were seized.