Palestinian Officer Among Four Arrested in West Bank Terror Tunnel Probe

An Israeli military court in Samaria extended the detention of two Palestinians and two Israeli citizens for eight days in connection with a recent operation in Qalqilya. The four are suspected of illegal weapons possession, preparing for a terror attack, and digging a passage or tunnel for criminal purposes or escape, according to the Israel Police. One of the Palestinian detainees is reportedly an officer in the Palestinian Preventive Security Service, who denies the charges and claims he was merely visiting another suspect. Significant discrepancies exist between the accounts of the Israel Police and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) regarding the operation. Police reported finding a tunnel at least 25 meters deep and another unfinished tunnel nearby. The IDF, however, described these reports as "irresponsible," stating the findings were two shafts approximately 12 meters deep that did not constitute tunnel entrances or lead to any underground route. The IDF also noted the shafts were not near border defenses. The military emphasized that these conclusions contradicted earlier "official and irresponsible reports" about a tunnel discovery. The IDF further clarified that the shafts were located far from the separation barrier, and weapons were found nearby, not inside. Seized items included an M16 rifle, a hunting rifle, a pistol, and ammunition.