Jenin Rocket Cell Carried Out Three Test Launches, Israeli Agencies Say
Israeli police and the Shin Bet announced on November 3 that they had uncovered a rocket production cell near Jenin. Six suspects were arrested after an investigation lasting several months.
A prosecutor's declaration has been submitted ahead of expected indictments against the six men, all residents of the Jenin area in their 30s. Ynet's account of the joint police and Shin Bet announcement places the case at the stage before formal charges are filed, following the seizure of weapons and written production instructions.
Three Launches, Followed by Changes
Investigators said the group manufactured a rocket body and explosive devices, then conducted three test launches. Their account describes a sequence of testing, examining performance and making changes before the next attempt.
The principal suspect admitted establishing the cell and identified other members, the agencies said. He told investigators that the tests had produced successful results in power and range. That assessment comes from his account as relayed by the investigators.
The investigation was conducted by the Shin Bet and the counterterror unit of the police Central Unit in the Judea and Samaria District. It adds a weapons production case to Israel's wider counterterror operations in Judea and Samaria.
Instructions Arrived Through a Messaging App
Police and the Shin Bet said the main suspect maintained contact with an outside source who sent information through a messaging application about materials used to manufacture explosives.
Officers also recovered written material dealing with explosives, rockets and explosive devices. Investigators said those documents were intended to support the cell's manufacturing work. The physical material was found alongside weapons, giving investigators both equipment and records to examine.
The seized items included an M16 rifle and an RPG body. A second suspect admitted helping the group obtain explosives and selling its members a weapon, Ynet reported, citing the investigation.
An Earlier Attempt Near Jenin
Efforts to launch crude rockets from northern Samaria have surfaced before. On June 26, 2023, the IDF reported a rocket launch attempt near Jenin. The army said at the time that the rocket posed no threat to nearby communities; no injuries or damage were reported.
That earlier incident provides background to the current investigation, whose central allegation is a production process involving repeated trials. The three tests described this week were part of the work attributed to the newly arrested cell.
For residents and visitors, instructions during an actual rocket or missile alert come from the Home Front Command. The official response depends on the location and the warning issued.
A Separate Arrest in Kafr Dan
Police also disclosed a separate operation near Jenin on November 3. Undercover Border Police officers had surrounded a clothing shop in Kafr Dan the previous day while searching for a wanted man affiliated with Fatah.
Police said he surrendered after realizing the building was surrounded. The shop owner was also detained on suspicion of helping him hide, The Times of Israel reported.
