Israeli Police Find M-16 Hidden in Kindergarten Sandbox in Rahat

Israeli police from the Rahat station and National Guard fighters conducted a targeted operation under the "Iron Net" campaign, leading to the discovery of an M-16 rifle concealed in a sandbox at a kindergarten in Rahat. Alongside the weapon, officers seized dozens of 9mm bullets and a pistol magazine. The operation followed a report received last Sunday about gunfire directed at a vehicle in Rahat.

Police detectives from Rahat, working with National Guard fighters, raided a residential compound including the kindergarten near the reported shooting location. During the search, the hidden weapon was found in an area regularly used by children for play. A suspect in his 30s, a Rahat resident, was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the shooting and illegal possession of weapons and ammunition. He was taken for questioning at the Rahat police station.

This incident is part of ongoing police enforcement efforts against illegal firearms possession in the region. The Southern District Police emphasized their commitment to proactively combating gun violence and illegal arms possession, focusing on those who hold, hide, or use weapons that threaten public safety. This follows recent joint operations by police and the IDF, including a rapid rescue of a young woman kidnapped by her family near Hebron.