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Israel captures alleged Hamas cell following West Bank murders Israel captures alleged Hamas cell following West Bank murders
(35 minutes later)
Israel’s domestic security agency Shin Bet has announced the arrest of five alleged Hamas members it claims were responsible for the murder of a pair of Israeli settlers on the occupied West Bank.Israel’s domestic security agency Shin Bet has announced the arrest of five alleged Hamas members it claims were responsible for the murder of a pair of Israeli settlers on the occupied West Bank.
Eitam and Naama Henkin, from the settlement of Neria, were shot while driving in their car on last week in front of four of their children at the beginning of a weekend of lethal violence.Eitam and Naama Henkin, from the settlement of Neria, were shot while driving in their car on last week in front of four of their children at the beginning of a weekend of lethal violence.
Following the arrests – which included a raid by undercover officers on a hospital in Nablus – Israeli sources said those allegedly reponsible had been identified both via forensic evidence and confessions. Following the arrests – which included a raid by undercover officers on a hospital in Nablus – Israeli sources said those allegedly responsible had been identified both via forensic evidence and confessions.
The five suspects were apparently arrested on Friday night shortly after the attack, in a raid in Nablus by the Israeli army’s Duvdevan unit, police anti-terror unit, and the Shin Bet. The five suspects were apparently arrested on Friday night shortly after the attack, in a raid in Nablus by the Israeli army’s Duvdevan unit, a police anti-terror unit, and the Shin Bet.
Footage from the raid – shown on Israel’s Channel 10 – showed Israeli forces in civilian clothing running down a hallway with handguns drawn.Footage from the raid – shown on Israel’s Channel 10 – showed Israeli forces in civilian clothing running down a hallway with handguns drawn.
As is customary, Israeli security officials provided no supporting evidence when briefing journalists.As is customary, Israeli security officials provided no supporting evidence when briefing journalists.
According to the Israeli account the five admitted to the attack in their interrogation, as well as two previous shootings in the West Bank that caused no casualties. According to the Israeli account, the five admitted to the attack in their interrogation, as well as two previous shootings in the West Bank that caused no casualties.
Briefing journalists on Monday night, Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Peter Lerner said the attack on Friday had that left the Henkins dead had ended prematurely after one of the attackers accidentally shot another of assailants in the hand. Briefing journalists on Monday night, a Israeli military spokesman, Lt Col Peter Lerner, said the attack on Friday that had left the Henkins dead had ended prematurely after one of the attackers accidentally shot another of the assailants in the hand.
The injured man dropped his gun and left it at the scene. It was this individual who was allegedly arrested during a raid on a hospital in the West Bank city of Nablus. The injured man dropped his gun and left it at the scene. It was this individual who was allegedly arrested in the raid on the hospital in Nablus.
According to Lerner the “cell” had undertaken a “dry run” before the attack and identified the location for the attack on the northern West Bank. “Two others who were spotters checked the route and gave the green light to carry out the attack. According to Lerner, the “cell” had undertaken a “dry run” before the attack and identified the location for the attack on the northern West Bank. “Two others who were spotters checked the route and gave the green light to carry out the attack.
“After [the Henkins’ vehicle] stopped they fired at close range and one terrorist accidentally shot and wounded another in his hand.”“After [the Henkins’ vehicle] stopped they fired at close range and one terrorist accidentally shot and wounded another in his hand.”
Related: Is a third Palestinian intifada on the way – or has it already begun?Related: Is a third Palestinian intifada on the way – or has it already begun?
He added: “It was random. I would say with some level caution if they had not shot one another we don’t know if would not also have killed the four kids in the back seat.” He added: “It was random. I would say with some level of caution [that] if they had not shot one another we don’t know if they would not also have killed the four kids in the back seat.”
The announcement of the arrests came as it was disclosed two Palestinian teenagers were killed in clashes with Israeli security forces in 24 hours including a 13-year-old boy in Bethlehem. The announcement of the arrests came as it was disclosed that two Palestinian teenagers were killed in clashes with Israeli forces in 24 hours including a 13-year-old boy in Bethlehem.
Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, also issued a statement regarding the arrests and a recent escalation of violence in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, issued a statement on the arrests and the recent escalation of violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
“We are acting with a strong hand against terrorism and against inciters. The police are going deeply into the Arab neighbourhoods, which has not been done in the past. We will demolish terrorists’ homes.“We are acting with a strong hand against terrorism and against inciters. The police are going deeply into the Arab neighbourhoods, which has not been done in the past. We will demolish terrorists’ homes.
“We are allowing our forces to take strong action against those who throw rocks and firebombs. This is necessary in order to safeguard the security of Israeli citizens on the roads and everywhere.“We are allowing our forces to take strong action against those who throw rocks and firebombs. This is necessary in order to safeguard the security of Israeli citizens on the roads and everywhere.
“We are not prepared to give immunity to any rioter, inciter or terrorist anywhere; therefore, there are no restrictions on the action of our security forces ... One thing should be clear – we will win. Just as we defeated previous waves of terrorism, we will defeat this one as well,” he said. “We are not prepared to give immunity to any rioter, inciter or terrorist anywhere; therefore, there are no restrictions on the action of our security forces ... One thing should be clear: we will win. Just as we defeated previous waves of terrorism, we will defeat this one as well,” he said.
Netanyahu is under pressure from rightwingers in his government coalition after four Israelis were killed in as many days and several others wounded, among them a two-year-old child.Netanyahu is under pressure from rightwingers in his government coalition after four Israelis were killed in as many days and several others wounded, among them a two-year-old child.
The prime minister was supposed to be visiting Germany for a two day official visit beginning on Wednesday but announced he would be cutting the trip to a handful of hours due to the continuing violence. The prime minister was supposed to be visiting Germany for a two-day official visit beginning on Wednesday but announced he would be cutting the trip to a handful of hours due to the continuing violence.
Meanwhile, clashes continued into Monday night with fresh confrontations being reported in the Hebron area and in east Jerusalem. Meanwhile, clashes continued into Monday night with fresh confrontations being reported in the Hebron area and in East Jerusalem.