Security forces arrest terror suspects in Jerusalem

Police arrest several Palestinian residents from Shuafat refugee camp on suspicion of recent Molotov, stone throwing attacks.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
Stone throwers (photo credit: Reuters)
Stone throwers
(photo credit: Reuters)
Security forces announced on Monday the arrest of several Palestinian residents of the Shuafat refugee camp in northern Jerusalem, on suspicion of a series of recent Molotov cocktail and rockthrowing attacks.
The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), Israel Police and Border Police jointly carried out the arrests in October and November, saying the men, some of whom are affiliated with Hamas, carried out daily attacks on police in their area and in the nearby Ras Khamis neighborhood.
Security forces said such attacks have sharply risen in recent months, prompting an investigation.
Three main suspects, all linked by the Shin Bet to Hamas, have been named as Ahmed Tzanduka, 18, Muhammad Tzalah, 20, and Malac Mahisan, 20.
The investigation showed that this cell carried out a long line of attacks, including firebombings and rock throwing at police, and a September 14 assault on a Border Police post with Molotov cocktails, rocks and fireworks, when it was manned by a single officer.
The suspects have been charged with manufacturing weapons, aggravated assault, arson, aggravated assault on police and disorder.
The Shin Bet vowed on Monday to continue its efforts to thwart violent disorder in the Jerusalem area.
Hamas is seeking to gradually regroup in the West Bank, according to IDF assessments. The group’s efforts are being thwarted by the IDF and the Shin Bet, which maintain a tight grip on intelligence and security in the area.
Last week, Maj. Guy Aviad, an expert on Hamas and head of the instruction department at the IDF General Staff’s History Department, said that while Hamas is trying to rebuild terror cells in the West Bank, it is constructing an organized fighting entity in Gaza.
“Hamas is building... regional brigades,” Aviad said.
The terror regime is also exploiting breaks in between rounds of fighting to better hide its rockets in underground bunkers, he added.