Israel Defense Forces Arrest 10 Terror Suspects in Northern Samaria Attack Plot
Israeli forces arrested ten terror suspects in Arraba on Monday, November 9, in an operation the Israel Defense Forces said targeted a planned attack on civilians in northern Samaria. Paratroopers, Duvdevan commandos and Border Police took part under Shin Bet intelligence guidance.
The operation was completed on Monday morning in the Menashe Brigade's sector. In its announcement at 15:22 Israel time, the army said forces had worked simultaneously at several locations across the village and transferred the detainees for further questioning by the security services.
Teams Search Ten Buildings
Ynet's military correspondent Elisha Ben Kimon reported that the troops entered ten buildings in parallel and located all ten wanted men within roughly half an hour. Arraba lies southwest of Jenin, in the northern part of Samaria.
Ynet identified the suspects as affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The army's public announcement described them as terrorists organizing a network to attack Israeli civilians.
The coordinated searches involved the Paratroopers reconnaissance unit, Duvdevan and Border Police units serving in Judea and Samaria. The Shin Bet supplied the intelligence directing the operation.
Other Cells Targeted in the Area
Makor Rishon reported that the Arraba arrests followed operations in Qabatiya and Aqaba over the preceding two months. Five suspects were arrested in Qabatiya, while ten suspects linked to a Hamas network were detained in Aqaba, the newspaper said, citing the military.
Ynet also reported the seizure of an M16 rifle and a rocket without a launcher in the Aqaba operation. The new Arraba announcement focused on the ten arrests and the suspected plan to target civilians.
Duvdevan's Role in Arrest Operations
Duvdevan specializes in operations across Judea and Samaria, including nighttime arrests and the capture of wanted terrorists. The army's official unit profile describes both overt and undercover operations, including work in densely populated areas. The unit was established in June 1986 and later joined the Commando Brigade.
A separate joint army and Shin Bet statement, carried by JDN on November 6, described three arrests in Binyamin. Duvdevan operated that week in Al Amari, Al Ram and Al Bireh against suspects accused of planning attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers.
Earlier Investigation Exposed Rocket Tests
Another recent case concerned a Jenin area rocket cell. Police and the Shin Bet, in a November 3 announcement carried by N12, said six suspects had built explosive charges and the casing of a rocket, which the cell then fired in three trial launches.
The suspects, residents of the Jenin area in their thirties, were investigated over several months. N12 reported the seizure of an M16 rifle and an RPG body, alongside the investigation into rocket production. According to the two agencies, guidance on explosives reached the main suspect over a messaging app, sent by a contact from outside the cell.
A prosecutor's declaration was submitted against the six suspects before that announcement, indicating an intention to file an indictment. In the Arraba case, the ten detainees were transferred to the Shin Bet and police units in the Judea and Samaria district for further investigation, Ynet reported.
