Israeli Border Police Foil Tunnel Digging Near Separation Barrier in Qalandiya

Israeli Border Police (Magav) forces prevented the early stages of a tunnel excavation intended to breach the separation barrier near Qalandiya, in the Jerusalem periphery. During an operational activity, observation personnel from the Atarot command center spotted several suspects digging a shaft close to the barrier route. Upon the report, Border Police units were dispatched to apprehend the suspects.

As the forces approached, the suspects fled on foot, prompting a pursuit during which warning shots were fired into the air. One suspect, a 36-year-old Palestinian resident of Qalandiya refugee camp, was captured. He was found to be in Israel without legal authorization. The suspect led the officers to the excavation site, where initial interrogation revealed plans to dig a tunnel for infiltrating Israeli territory.

At the site, numerous digging tools and buckets were discovered, believed to have been used for the tunnel construction. The suspect and the seized items were taken for further investigation. Authorities anticipate additional arrests related to the incident.