Israeli Military Charges West Bank Terror Cell Leader for Deadly July Attack

The Israeli military prosecution filed charges on Sunday against Kamal Hatib, the commander of the Noor al-Shams battalion terror cell in Tulkarm, at the Samaria military court. Hatib is accused of orchestrating the July 1, 2024 attack that killed Reserve Sergeant Yehuda Geto and injured another soldier. According to the indictment, Hatib remotely detonated an explosive device planted in advance near a security forces vehicle using a cellphone from a room in the Bal'a neighborhood. The blast overturned the vehicle, killing Geto and wounding a second soldier who was hospitalized.

Beyond this attack, Hatib allegedly led numerous terror operations, including recruiting operatives for surveillance and bomb-making, planting explosives, trafficking weapons, and transferring funds and military equipment to militants. The charges include intentional joint murder, attempted murder, leading an unauthorized organization, arms trafficking, and bomb placement. The Samaria military court ordered Hatib held in custody until the conclusion of legal proceedings.

The July 1 operation was part of a counterterrorism effort by the Menashe Brigade at the Noor al-Shams camp in Tulkarm, involving roadblocks and bomb neutralizations. The explosive detonated around 7 a.m. near a stationary Panther vehicle from which soldiers had dismounted, resulting in Geto's death. This case marks a significant step in dismantling terror networks operating in the West Bank.