Cleared for publication: Israel recently foiled an elaborate Hamas plot to carry out a series of terrorist attacks, including assassinating MK Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party.
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According to details released by the Israel Security Agency, the Shin Bet uncovered an active, five-man Hamas terrorist cell in east Jerusalem planning to bomb the Jerusalem light rail using a drone. They were also planning to abduct Israeli civilians and soldiers, and had planned to target Ben-Gvir.
The five, all residents of east Jerusalem, were arrested in April in a joint police-Shin Bet operation and named as Rashid Rashek, Mansour Tzafadi, Muhammad Salima, Hamza Abu Nab, and Safian Ajaloni.
The five were recently indicted before a Jerusalem court on a host of security and terrorism-related offenses. They were remanded pending the conclusion of the legal proceedings against them.
According to the Shin Bet, Rashek and Tzafadi are known Hamas operatives. The affiliation of Salima, Abu Nab, and Ajaloni with the group became clear early on in the investigation. The latter also revealed that the five were already in possession of a drone that they planned to arm with explosives and that the hit on Otzma Yehudit's leader was already being planned.
Authorities seized the drone as well as other weapons when the five were arrested.
The investigation further found that the cell planned to hide in Hebron or Jenin after carrying out the attacks. Hebron is considered a Hamas redoubt in the West Bank, while Jenin is infamous as an Islamic Jihad stronghold.
According to available details, Rashek recruited operatives in Jerusalem to instigate riots on the Temple Mount during the month of Ramadan in a bid to destabilize the already volatile area.
"The Shin Bet and the Israel Police will continue to act resolutely to bring to justice those involved in all terrorist activities," a joint statement by the Israel Police and the Shin Bet said.
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